Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on health-related quality of life has been as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 reported in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Data is not available estimating the impact on health-related quality of life as a result of the reported reduction in consumption in the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy:Second Annual Report. The University of Sheffield modelling estima…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reduction in alcohol-related crime has been as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 reported in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on recorded crimes in Scotland can be found via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubRecordedCrime. The Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report does not esti…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reduction in unemployment due to alcohol problems has been as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 reported in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Data is not available estimating the reduction in unemployment as a result of the reported reduction in consumption in the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report. The University of Sheffield modelling estimates that a 50 …
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reduction in absenteeism from work has been as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 reported in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Data is not available estimating the reduction in absenteeism from work as a result of the reported reduction in consumption in the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report. The University of Sheffield modelling estimates t…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reduction in alcohol-related deaths has been as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 as reported in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12026 on 28 January 2013. 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/parliamentar…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reduction in alcohol-related hospital admissions has been as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 reported in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on total alcohol-related hospital admissions can be found in the following report, Alcohol-related Hospital Statistics Report 2012 which is available on the following link: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Drugs-and-Alcohol-Misuse/Publicat…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost saving was to the public sector as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 as recorded in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Data is not available estimating the cost saving to the public sector as a result of the reported reduction in consumption in the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: second Annual Report. The University of Sheffield modelling estimates tha…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many lives have been saved as a result of the reduction in alcohol consumption of 5% between 2009 and 2011 as recorded in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy: Second Annual Report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is not possible to estimate any reduction in deaths due to the reported reduction in consumption in the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: second Annual Report as the impact on the number of deaths may take a number of years to become a…
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage reduction in alcohol consumption it expects to achieve from the introduction of a 50 pence per unit minimum price of alcohol and how this compares with the reduction in alcohol consumption between 2009 and 2011 recorded in Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Stra…
Answer · Alex Neil: In the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: 2nd Annual Report, analysis of the most recent data shows that per adult sales decreased by 5% between 2009 and 2011 (two year time period). This is a total reduction across adult sales and is not …
21 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the level of alcohol consumption was in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and (e) 2011 as measured by (i) alcohol duty clearances, (ii) the Scottish Health Survey and (iii) retail sales data.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The level of alcohol consumption/sales is estimated from various sources. Information on alcohol duty clearances can be found on the following link: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx. The Alcohol Factsheet March 2012 table …
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide continuing assistance for those affected by thalidomide for the next 10 years.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11979 on 9 January 2013. 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/parliamentary…
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the continuation of the support grant for those affected by thalidomide.
Answer · Alex Neil: On 20 December 2012, we committed to provide £14.2 million over the next 10 years to help support the 58 known thalidomide survivors in Scotland.
19 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the supply of (a) junior doctors and (b) middle grade doctors, following reports by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde of difficulties with recruitment in 2012 and anticipated in the future.
Answer · Alex Neil: In terms of recruitment into foundation and front line specialty training programme posts for 2013, we have maintained intake numbers at 2012 levels. While data for recruitment into foundation posts for 2013 will not be available for some time, recruitment in…
19 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) received and (b) will publish the evaluation report on the NHS board elections pilot.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government received the Final Report of the Statutory Evaluation into Health Board Elections and Alternative Pilots on 11 December 2012 from the London School of Economics. On 20 December 2012 the report and its supporting documents were placed i…
19 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) budgeted and (b) final cost was of the (i) Update Report on Scottish Pain Management Services, published by Health Improvement Scotland on 26 October 2012, and (ii) the data report published on 7 December 2012.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The update report (October 2012) and subsequent additional data (December 2012) were planned and accounted for within Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s overall budget and did not require any additional or external funding. There were no publication costs for …
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an assessment of the benefits of proton therapy for childhood cancers has been carried out.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Department of Health published proposals in October 2012 for the NHS to invest £250 million in building proton beam therapy facilities at the Christie Hospital in Manchester and University College London Hospital, to develop a UK proton beam therapy servi…
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the availability of access to proton therapy at hospitals is, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: Proton beam therapy is currently provided by only a small number of treatment centres in the world. Access to high energy proton beam therapy for all appropriate patients in Scotland is managed through an agreed and confirmed referral pathway, through the UK …
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are in place to ensure that children undergoing treatment for cancer have access to learning facilities and materials.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11879 on 22 January 2013. 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/parliamentar…
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been invested in support programmes for families of children with cancer in each year since 2008.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11879 on 22 January 2013. 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/parliamentar…
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it funds to support the families of children with cancer.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11879 on 22 January 2013. 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/parliamentar…
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to improve awareness of childhood cancers among (a) GPs and (b) health professionals.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11879 on 22 January 2013. 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/parliamentar…
14 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to improve awareness of childhood cancers among parents and families.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government established a paediatric cancer Managed Service Network in 2011 with funding from the National Delivery Plan for Children and Young People’s Specialist Services (NDP) to ensure that children and young people with a diagnosis of cancer …
10 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a permanent supported workplaces taskforce consisting of the Council of Economic Advisors, trade unions, cooperatives and private sector expertise to help find a sustainable future for supported workplaces.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: On 29 November the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of the set-up of a supported workplaces task force. A review of all Scotland’s supported businesses is currently underway and will conclude by March 2013. It is my intention that the group will be in pla…
10 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement an employer support grant for supported workplace workers who have been made redundant.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I will make an announcement in Parliament on 18 December to provide details of financial support that will be put in place to help redundant Remploy workers to enter new employment. At the present time, this scheme will be available only to disabled ex-Rempl…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any consultant-led clinics will be cancelled over the 2012-13 Christmas and New Year period.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is for individual NHS boards to plan how their services are going to be provided for over the holiday period to ensure that patients have no delay in their care.
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding staff cover over the 2012-13 Christmas and New Year period.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has supported NHS boards, throughout the year to develop and refine their winter plans for 2012-13. As part of this process, the Scottish Government held a national winter planning meeting and two regional winter planning events with N…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there will be sufficient staffing to provide out of hours cover across the NHS over the 2012-13 Christmas and New Year period.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS boards plan the staffing levels required to meet predicted demand throughout the year. The winter presents additional challenges and the Scottish Government has a well established process in place to support NHS Scotland to prepare for the winter period. …
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11052 by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012, what developments it is awaiting relating to NHS equal pay claims elsewhere.
Answer · Alex Neil: As there are no further NHS ‘test’ cases being run in England, NHS Scotland is not awaiting any developments in other part of the United Kingdom. However as the Scottish legal system/Employment Tribunal Office will take account of any Employment Appeal Tribun…
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11052 by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012, in which financial year it anticipates settling the 10,300 outstanding NHS pay claims.
Answer · Alex Neil: The position remains that claims still do not provide sufficient detail about the comparator jobs to allow an estimate to be made of the likelihood of the success of the claims or of any financial impact that they may have. Until such time as the claimants id…
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11052 by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012, whether it will provide a breakdown by NHS board of the 10,300 outstanding equal pay claims.
Answer · Alex Neil: The number of outstanding equal pay claims is now 10,035, which are broken down by NHS board in the following table. It should be noted that at present the cases are being dealt with on a pan Scotland basis. Health Board Claims NHS Ayrshire and Arran 1,70…