Helen Eadie

11 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring NHS IVF provision in line with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Eligible patients in Scotland can receive up to two or three cycles of IVF treatment. Patients in Wales receive up to two cycles of IVF and patients in Northern Ireland have access to one cycle of treatment. In England, the final decision on whether to provi…

11 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) couples and (b) individuals have received publicly funded (i) IVF and (ii) intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertility treatment in each of the last three years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not collected centrally in Scotland. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority collects this type of information for the whole of the UK. Further details can be found at http://www.hfea.gov.uk/104.html.

11 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the IVF treatment allowance to three cycles.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Current guidance with NHS boards on the recommended number of IVF cycles was published in 2000 by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland. These guidelines, which remain extant, recommend that eligible patients receive a maximum of three…

11 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS is required to enable couples in need of IVF to access two complete cycles of treatment.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Current guidance with NHS boards on the recommended number of IVF cycles was published in 2000 by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland. These guidelines, which remain extant, recommend that eligible patients receive a maximum of three…

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Swedish and (b) Danish health services regarding IVF treatment cycles and whether it will develop a similar approach to these countries.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No discussions have taken place with (a) Swedish and (b) Danish health services regarding IVF treatment cycles.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider organising regular stakeholder meetings to discuss issues regarding infertility treatment.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The stakeholder group Infertility Network Scotland (INS) is a core member of the National Infertility Group, and officials in the Scottish Government have regular discussions and meetings with the charity.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the extent of so-called reproductive tourism across Europe.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No discussions have taken place with the UK Government about the extent of so-called reproductive tourism across Europe.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cycles of IVF treatment are provided per million people and what information it has on how this compares to other countries in Europe.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not collected centrally in Scotland. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority collects this type of information for the whole of the UK. Further details can be found at http://www.hfea.gov.uk/104.html.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to give patients who have waited more than one year for infertility treatment prior authority to seek this in other countries in Europe.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is for NHS boards to decide whether to reimburse eligible patients who have had infertility treatment abroad.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it defines as a "timely" wait for infertility services as referred to in the Members' Business Debate on motion S3M-03741 (Official Report, c. 18048).

Answer · Michael Matheson: The government has recently advised NHS boards of its commitment to infertility services, and that all NHS boards across Scotland should ensure that waiting times for IVF are at a maximum of 12 months by March 2015. Five NHS boards already meet this target.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the waiting times for NHS Fife fertility services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Whilst waiting times in NHS Fife are, at three years, the joint longest in Scotland, NHS Fife has advised it is are now actively working to bring this service into line with other NHS providers, and is working towards a maximum waiting time of 12 months.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made since 2009 in assisting the Information Services Division in sharing data and collecting information from the four level 3 fertility clinics.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of the National Infertility Group, NHS Information Services Division has been collecting selected data from the four level III fertility clinics on a standardised form. The data are aggregate rather than individual records. Funding to assist the centr…

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards highlighted as being the poorest performers in relation to infertility services in the Members' Business Debate on motion S3M-03741 (Official Report, c. 18048) have made the most progress.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Lothian has made the most progress since being highlighted as a poor performer in relation to infertility services in the Members' Business Debate on motion S3M-03741 (Official Report, c. 18048). Waiting times for IVF treatment in NHS Lothian were three …

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports the Infertility Network Scotland has produced since 2009.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Infertility Network Scotland has produced two reports for the Scottish Government since 2009.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services has produced since 2009.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Infertility Group was set up in April 2010. Its report, with recommendations, is expected to be with ministers by the end of December 2012.

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has published the action plan on infertility services mentioned by the Minister for Public Health and Sport on 28 May 2009 (Official Report, c. 18057) and, if so, when.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Infertility Group was set up in April 2010 and the action plan on infertility services mentioned by the Minister for Public Health and Sport on 28 May 2009 (Official Report, c. 18057) became the group’s remit and was published on the Maternity Se…

10 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all NHS boards have implemented the NHS guidance on infertility services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: National criteria were developed by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland (EAGISS) in 2000. These guidelines were subsequently reviewed and in 2007 further recommendations were made to raise the upper age limit for treatment and update…

5 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08312 by Keith Brown on 19 July 2012, whether it will ensure that the competitive position of the proposed Rosyth international container terminal will not be adversely impacted by the time taken to consider the inquiry report and the determination …

Answer · Keith Brown: We will consider the report of the inquiry, which is now expected by the end of October, and determine the harbour revision order application as quickly as possible.

26 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make its recommendation on the Rosyth International Container Terminal project.

Answer · Keith Brown: Ministers will consider the report of the public local inquiry and determine whether or not to make the order as soon as possible thereafter.

26 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the reporter's report of the public local inquiry on the Rosyth International Container Terminal will be received.

Answer · Keith Brown: We expect to receive the report of the public local inquiry later this year.

26 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the harbour revision order process for the Rosyth International Container Terminal.

Answer · Keith Brown: The application for a harbour revision order for the Rosyth International Container Terminal received over 70 objections and ministers referred these to a public local inquiry which began hearing evidence in January, with a further evidence session held in Ap…

19 Jun 2012 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how its procurement contracts take account of Article 19 of the EU procurement directive.

13 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the European Commission.

30 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which minister will decide how the ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd civil penalty for unreported emissions will be spent.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07633 on 12 June 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…

30 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to decide where the ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd civil penalty for unreported emissions will be spent.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07633 on 12 June 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…

30 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd civil penalty for unreported emissions will be spent in Fife.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Revenue from the ExxonMobile Chemical Ltd civil penalty for under-reported carbon dioxide emissions in 2008 under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) was used for the projects and tasks noted below. The criteria applied were that they must be Climate Cha…

30 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment has been carried out regarding the proposed reduction in pay for legal trainees in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from 2013.

16 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is carrying out on the interim effect of the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence on attainment levels in schools.

18 Apr 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what checks and investigations have been carried out into care homes formerly operated by Southern Cross Healthcare.

22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve communication between mainstream schools educating children with autism and their parents.