Jackie Baillie

18 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of cancer patients receives radiotherapy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data from Information Services Division Scotland confirms that in 2009, 40,392 people in Scotland were diagnosed with cancer. Of this population group, 8,371 (20.7%) received radiotherapy as a primary (first) treatment. This data relates only to primary ther…

18 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of cancer patients receives (a) intensity-modulated and (b) image-guided radiotherapy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not collected centrally. However, with regard to Intensity Modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) it is important to note that this radiotherapy treatment is not suitable for treating all types of cancer. Decisions regarding the most appropriate t…

15 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the closure of the hospice ward at Queen Margaret Hospital would constitute a major service change that would be subject to ministerial approval.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Fife has established a review group to look at the options for the delivery of inpatient care across Fife as part of their wider palliative care model. It is not possible to speculate on future service configuration, or, whether a hypothetical proposal wo…

15 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds there are in the hospice ward at Queen Margaret Hospital; how many will be provided if the ward is closed, and where they will be located.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are a total of nine in-patient beds in the Palliative Care Ward in Queen Margaret Hospital. NHS Fife has established a review group to look at the options for the delivery of inpatient care across Fife as part of their wider palliative care model. It is…

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reduction in the number of student places at Clydebank College as a result of the proposed budget settlement and, if so, what this will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges, and the associated activity which colleges require to deliver, fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken of levels of deprivation when deciding individual budget allocations for colleges.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reduction in the number of courses at Clydebank College as a result of the proposed budget settlement and, if so, what this will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges, and the associated activity which colleges require to deliver, fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reduction in the number of jobs at Clydebank College as a result of the proposed budget settlement and, if so, what this will be.

Answer · Michael Russell: Colleges are independent employers and are responsible for taking their own decisions on staff-related matters, where appropriate in consultation with the recognised trade unions. Ministers have no role in determining the number of staff employed by Clydebank…

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, assuming student support remained at the same level, what the budget for Clydebank College would be for (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what allowance is made for supported learning in individual budget allocations for colleges.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when colleges will be provided with an indicative offer of grant.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for Clydebank College for (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Funding Council will provide the detailed outline of budget allocations to colleges.

Answer · Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason NHS Grampian has cancelled its contract with the Terence Higgins Trust for sexual health and HIV prevention work with gay and bisexual men.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The commissioning of third sector organisations, and the performance management of any contracts that exist, is a matter for NHS boards locally. The role of government is to ensure that our policy priorities of fewer new blood-borne virus infections and fewer…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that gay and bisexual men will be able to access relevant sexual health and HIV prevention services in NHS Grampian.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The delivery of HIV and sexual health prevention services for gay and bisexual men is a matter for NHS boards to determine locally. NHS Grampian has informed us that they have been working with their former third sector provider and their local networks to en…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that sexual health and HIV prevention services in Grampian are not reduced between 1 December 2011 and April 2012.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The delivery of HIV and sexual health prevention services is a matter for NHS boards to determine locally. NHS Grampian has informed us that they have been working with their former third sector provider and their local networks to ensure that HIV prevention …

10 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have a dual diagnosis of Down's syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The requested information is not held centrally.

10 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people there are with Down's syndrome, broken down by age bracket.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The requested information is not held centrally.

5 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running cost will be of the NHS 24 TV channel.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03196 on 18 October 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASe…

5 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the development cost was of the NHS 24 TV channel.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS 24 have advised that costs to date for the digital television channel have been £171,000. This includes £100,000 for the licence (to 31 March 2012) and £71,000 in development costs for the various portals to existing information sources, such as NHS 24 in…

4 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the qualifying criteria for the concessionary travel scheme to ensure that no disabled person loses their entitlement following the reform of welfare benefits by the UK Government.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are looking at how the reform of welfare benefits by the UK Government will affect disabled people’s eligibility for concessionary travel in Scotland as they emerge. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport …

4 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment that no person who receives concessionary travel will have that entitlement removed as part of the reform of welfare benefits by the UK Government.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are looking at how the reform of welfare benefits by the UK Government will affect disabled people’s eligibility for concessionary travel in Scotland as they emerge. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport …

28 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific initiatives are being taken forward as part of the budget for preventative spending and whether these are new or existing programmes.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03017 on 18 october 2011. 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…

28 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to preventative spending for each year of the spending review period.

Answer · John Swinney: The government’s spending plans are designed to deliver a step change in the way we fund and deliver public services based on the growing body of evidence demonstrating the benefits of a focus on prevention. To improve sustainability and unlock resources, we …

26 Sep 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on reported concerns by the Royal College of Nursing that nurses are at breaking point due to fears over workloads, job security and falling care standards.

21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last wrote to NHS boards about their budget allocations for 2012-13.

21 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the next meeting of the National Planning Forum will discuss the provision of transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Planning Forum will be provided with an update on transcathere aortic valve implantation treatment (TAVI) when it meets on 13 October 2011.

21 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the (a) clinical and (b) social cost of not providing transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s Quality Strategy commits us to ensure that healthcare services are not only person-centred, but also effective and safe. As such, the introduction of any new health technology should be guided by those principles. An assessment of t…

21 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy will make a decision on the provision of transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have asked that NHSScotland continues to review further evidence on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) as it emerges. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently consulting on draft Interventional Procedures Pr…

14 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and what issues were discussed.