Parliamentary questions
Irene Oldfather
1,035 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to discuss the provision of NHS dentistry in the area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials meet regularly withlead officers from NHS boards, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran, to discussimplementation of <i>An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHSDental Services in Scotland</i>. They last met on 25 October.</p>
24 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all children have access to the services of an NHS dentist.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: At 31 March 2005, 66% of childrenwere registered with a NHS general dental practitioner. We are implementing newschemes to promote registration and associated preventative activity for childrenfrom birth. We are creating financial incentives for dentists who …
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a code of conduct for NHS dentists in respect of the notice period required to be given for NHS patients whose contracts are about to expire.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Where a dentist does not agree to the extension of a continuing care or capitation arrangement, i.e. chooses to let the arrangement lapse at the end of the 15 month registration period, then he/she is obliged under his/her NHS terms of service to provide the …
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS dentists to ensure that adequate notice is given to NHS patients whose contracts are about to expire.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Dentists are provided with copies of relevant information, including the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1996, when joining an NHS board’s dental list. The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) R…
18 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any contingency plans in place to ensure that the NHS has adequate supplies of donor sperm for use in assisted conception treatment in the event of a shortage.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive does not haveany contingency plans in place in the event of a shortage of donor sperm.</p>
18 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage more men to donate sperm for use in assisted conception treatment.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Earlier this year, the Scottish Executive contributed to a national campaign, in collaboration withthe Department of Health, to encourage more individuals, both men and women, todonate gametes for use in assisted conception treatment.</p>
18 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the number of sperm donors for assisted conception treatment on the NHS remains at the required level.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-17619 on 1 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be foundat <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
15 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been undertaken of the Partners in Excellence modern language learning project which is currently operational in the Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire local authority areas.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Partners in Excellenceproject was independently evaluated in 2004 by the Scottish Centre forInformation on Language Technology and Research (SCILT). A copy of <i>Partners in Excellence Evaluation Report</i>is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre…
15 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase attainment in modern language learning.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The £18.5 million languagesfund provided to education authorities since 2001 has been used to: trainmodern languages teachers; allow teachers to be seconded to support modernlanguages developments; enhance learning and teaching resources; provideforeign langu…
15 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on modern language learning in secondary schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-17913 answered on 9 August 2005. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://scottish.parliament.u…
15 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on modern language learning in primary schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: We consider languagelearning to be very important at all ages and since 2001 we have providededucation authorities with £18.5 million to support languages learning andteaching.</p><p>Moreover, in <i>APartnership for A Better Scotland </i>we guaranteed every p…
30 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether North Ayrshire Council could now be included in the allocation of £5 million per annum for the Financial Inclusion Action Plan announced earlier this month.
Answer · Johann Lamont: North Ayrshire Council has now been allocated £300,000 per annum for 2006-07 and 2007-08 to tackle financial exclusion because of the connection between financial exclusion and the very high-level of income deprivation in North Ayrshire.</p>
29 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Ileostomy Association regarding plans for the future supply of ostomy equipment to patients.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There have been no discussions to date.</p> <p>A consultation on the future arrangements for the supply of appliances currently available on prescription was conducted in 2003 when views were sought from all interested parties. Only three patient organisation…
29 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to consult patients who have undergone an ileostomy on the future arrangements for the supply of ostomy equipment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-16273, answered 10 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p><ahref="http://www.scottish.par…
29 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council regarding arrangements for the future supply of ostomy equipment to patients.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A consultation on the future arrangements for the supply of appliances currently available on prescription was conducted in 2003 and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council (SPGC) was one of the bodies that responded.</p> <p>The way forward was announced …
14 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce measures, for example through the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme, to reduce the cost of bicycle safety helmets to people in low income households.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: No. However, to encourage the purchase of cycle helmets, all cycle helmets have been zero rated for VAT since 1 April 2001.</p>
14 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with head injuries resulting from (a) cycling, (b) skateboarding and (c) rollerblading accidents have been admitted to hospital in the last year.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The number of pedal cyclistsadmitted to hospital with head injuries as a result of being involved in a transportaccident was 527 in the year ending March 2004, the latest date available. Dataare not routinely collected at a level of detail that would allow ex…
14 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to promote the wider use of bicycle safety helmets.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the development of key road safety education initiatives and publicity messages. The campaign encourages the use of protective headgear through the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme…
6 Apr 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on musical activity in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Music is an important part of every child's education and has a very firm place in the curriculum.</p>
29 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in (a) Scotland and (b) NHS Ayrshire and Arran in 2004.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-14639 on 10 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
29 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the effectiveness of zometa in the treatment of prostate cancer in (a) the rest of the United Kingdom, (b) Europe and (c) the United States of America.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does notgather data on the effectiveness of drug therapies.</p><p>The Scottish MedicinesConsortium (SMC) was established to advise all NHS boards in Scotland on newdrugs and new indications for established drugs. In January 2004 the SMC…
29 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A Prostate Cancer Risk ManagementPrimary Care Resource Pack has been circulated to every general practitioner inScotland to help provide advice to men about prostate cancer risk.</p><p>We have made available £4 millionover two years to fund 10 well man pilot …
17 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for involving parents in developing strategies for education authorities to cater appropriately for children with food allergies.
Answer · Euan Robson: The Executive does not currently direct local authorities to adopt any specific procedure in relation to children with food allergies. However, under the philosophy and practice of Hungry for Success, the Executive’s school food programme founded in the recom…
17 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities regarding (a) accommodating children with food allergies on school trips and (b) strategies for dealing with children suffering from peanut allergies.
Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive does not at present issue national guidance for local authorities on accommodating children with food allergies on school trips.</p> <p>Likewise, the Executive does not issue national guidance for dealing with children suffering from pe…
10 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence regarding advice on the prescription of drugs for the treatment of Alhzheimer's disease.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the questionS2W-15196 answered on 17 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
10 Mar 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will review drug prescribing guidance in relation to the treatment of Alhzheimer's disease.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The National Institute for ClinicalExcellence (NICE) has published an Appraisal Consultation Document entitled <i>Alzheimer'sdisease - donepezil, rivastigmine, </i>galantamine<i> and memantine</i>. The consultation is openuntil 22 March 2005 and can be access…
24 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per patient is of providing an insulin pump for the treatment of diabetes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Insulin pumps cost between £2,350 and £2,562 and can be expected to last four to eight years. The maintenance cost per year following warranty life (usually four years) is approximately £180 per year. The average cost of consumables (i.e. insulin cartridges, …
24 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many diabetics have been issued with insulin pumps to treat their condition (a) in total and (b) broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
24 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are registered as diabetic (a) in total and (b) broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Diabetes Survey 2003, published in September 2004, contains the most recent data on the number of people with diabetes on the diabetes register. The numbers of people on the diabetes register at the time of the survey in each NHS board area were:…
24 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards on the prescription of insulin pumps for diabetics.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Guidance on the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for diabetes was set out in Technology Appraisal 57 of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). This guidance was also recommended for Scotland by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, …