Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7082 by Susan Deacon on 19 June 2000, which health boards offered additional payments to GPs for flu vaccinations in 1999-2000; what criteria health boards use in deciding whether to make such payments, and what the total amount paid to GPs by each h…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The answer is set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=602><TR><TD WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Health Board</TD><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Health Board Criteria</TD><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIG…
12 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the 43% increase in water charges for Band D customers in 2000-01 by North of Scotland Water Authority, and whether the increase is consistent with the Minister for Transport and the Environment's announcement that the overall revenue increase for the authority for …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: When the Authority was set up in 1996, it inherited a range of water and wastewater charges from the various councils. It has gradually moved to harmonise charges throughout its area. With the new charges for 2000-01, this process is now complete for domestic…
12 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6945 by Susan Deacon on 22 June 2000, whether it has any plans to collect centrally information on the number of flu vaccines administered.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is currently considering improvements to the arrangements for the collection of information on the number of flu vaccines administered. This is one of a number of issues being considered by the Winter Performance Group and in discussion…
12 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7563 by Susan Deacon on 22 June 2000, why it will take two years to publish the results of the Scottish Health Survey carried out in 1998.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Survey is the major national survey of the health of the Scottish population within the 2-74 age group. It involves the gathering of health-related data from almost 13,000 members of the Scottish public.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The fieldwork for…
11 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-3791 and S1W-5730 by Susan Deacon on 21 January 2000 and 27 April 2000 respectively, whether it will reconsider its policy on the use of Taxane drugs for the treatment of advanced breast cancer and, in the light of the National Institute for Clinic…
Answer · Susan Deacon: Taxol and Taxotere are available on the NHS in Scotland and the use of these drugs depends on the clinical judgement of the specialists concerned, informed by any advice issued by their local Drug and Therapeutic Committees.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The NICE advice …
11 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it took almost six months to answer question S1W-3785.
Answer · Iain Gray: This question had been referred to officials, became lost in the system, and came to light when a comprehensive trawl was made of all unanswered questions. I first received a suggested reply from officials on 26 June and the question was answered by me on 7 J…
11 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are made for women from ethnic minorities who suffer from cancer, especially breast cancer, to address any communication difficulties.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The National Health Service is obliged to ensure equity of access to all services for everyone irrespective of their ethnic background or if English is not their first language. General principles and specific recommendations for language, communication and i…
10 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is between diagnosis and treatment in all Scottish cancer treatment units, listed for each type of cancer.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Cancer is one of the three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. Reducing waiting times for investigation and treatment is a high priority within the Scottish Cancer Group's work programme.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Initial investigation and treatment for canc…
10 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the total number of general practitioner/general dental practitioner referrals to outpatients' departments were seen within nine weeks for each quarter from March 1997 to March 2000, listed by health board and for Scotland as a whole.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on outpatient waiting times is collected centrally only for first outpatient appointments with a consultant, following referral by a general medical practitioner/general dental practitioner.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">This data is available by health board…
10 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of established radiology posts in Scotland are currently unfilled and what measures are being taken to fill these positions.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The latest data available is from the annual notification of vacancies at 30 September 1999, which is collected by ISD Scotland. Only consultant and staff grade vacancies are recorded. At 30 September 1999, 8.2% of established consultant or staff grade posts …
10 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of meningococcal infection and viral hepatitis were recorded for the year 1999.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There were 352 statutory notifications of meningococcal infection reported to the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) in Scotland in 1999. These include cases which are laboratory confirmed and cases diagnosed on the basis of clinic…
10 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why some GPs have not received an NHS superannuation annual statement since December 1997.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is responsible for the administration of the NHS Superannuation Scheme. The agency is having a new computer system developed and has consequently been unable to provide scheme members, including general practitioners, with …
3 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figure is for the number of blocked beds in Scotland following the census on 30 June 2000.
Answer · Iain Gray: Comprehensive information on delayed discharges following the first census is expected to be published by the Information and Statistics Division of the NHS in Scotland around mid-August.
28 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what special provisions have been made to finance the tuition fees and maintenance costs of care leavers in order to encourage their entry into higher education.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Currently, there are no special finance arrangements for care leavers entering higher education. The support costs are met from the normal budget.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The eligibility criteria for student support are the same as for all other students studying f…
28 Jun 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing, in the light of the interim report of the task force set up to oversee the management of NHS services in Tayside, to address any current problems being faced by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The focus of the interim report is on the diagnosis of the problems and it is for the Trusts and health boards to work with the task force to address them. However, as I announced on 30 June, I intend to put in place additional management support to bolster t…
26 Jun 2000 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Executive's response is to the interim report of the task force set up to oversee the management of NHS services in Tayside.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Tayside Task Force Interim Report has been received by Susan Deacon for her consideration. The Executive's response will be issued in the very near future.
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many retailers have been prosecuted in Scotland under the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 following the issue of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department Circular No. 1992 (GEN) 9.
Answer · Jim Wallace: During the period between 1992 and 1998 there have been two prosecutions in Scottish courts where the main offence was under the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991. Data for 1999 are not yet available.
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to bring the incidence of mental and behaviour disorders among males due to alcohol misuse, drug misuse and schi'ophrenia in line with the lower incidence among females.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is committed to tackling inequalities in health, including gender-based inequalities. To that end, and in conjunction with a range of partners, the Scottish Executive is taking forward a wide programme of action to improve life circumst…
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address the 10% decrease in children registering for general and community dental services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Patient registration figures at 31 May 2000 indicate that there has been an overall decrease of 1.7% in the number of children registered on the NHS with a general dental practitioner compared to the position in May 1999. The percentage of young children who …
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address the rise in confirmed notifications of meningococcal infection.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Rises in confirmed notifications of meningococcal infection over the winter of 1999-2000 were associated with the unusually large outbreak of influenza, a well-recognised association. On 14 January the Executive issued a press release, SE0059/2000, confirming…
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address the 40% increase in accidental deaths of children under 15.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The data collected by the General Register Office do not confirm there has been any such increase. The Executive is, however, considering currently how best to further promote the prevention of accidents among children.
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address the increase of 5.5% in 1998 in the number of notifications of tuberculosis.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of cases of tuberculosis in Scotland has been comparatively low and relatively stable in the 1990s, with no suggestion of an upward trend. The increase of 5.5% in 1998 is likely to be due to natural random variations in incidence. In 1999, the prov…
20 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why deaths of males from ischaemic heart disease are three times higher than of females and what measures are being introduced to reduce this disparity.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The ratio of 3:1 deaths of men and women with ischaemic heart disease applies to those aged between 45 and 64, research evidence suggests that pre-menopausal women appear to be protected from the disease. The ratio declines with age, and by age 75 the differe…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate resources have been allocated for investment in NHS diagnostic equipment.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Capital resources are not specifically allocated to individual NHS Trusts for the provision or replacement of diagnostic equipment.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate investment in diagnostic equipment is in place to ensure early detection and management of osteoporosis.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Capital resources are not specifically allocated to individual NHS Trusts for the provision or replacement of diagnostic equipment.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Health boards and NHS Trusts must reach decisions on local priorities and then plan how to fund those priorit…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the current investment in resuscitation suites in major accident and emergency departments.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Additional funding of £11 million was made available earlier in the year from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the modernisation of A&E services. It is for health boards and NHS Trusts to determine the level of investment required in a particular servic…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to help patients stop smoking following myocardial infarction, as outlined by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Answer · Susan Deacon: All doctors are aware of the importance of patients stopping smoking following myocardial infarction. Patients taking part in cardiac rehabilitation programmes are given repeated brief and supportive advice on how to stop smoking.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Royal …
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all non-departmental public bodies which have ceased to exist since May 1997.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Between May 1997 and June 2000, the following non-departmental public bodies have ceased to exist:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=356><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Advisory Committee on Dental Establishments</TD></…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all new non-departmental public bodies which have come into existence since May 1997.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Between May 1997 and July 2000, the following non-departmental public bodies came into existence:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="76%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">NPDB</TD><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="RIGHT">Dat…
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the set-up and annual running costs are of the Health Technology Board for Scotland, the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network and the new Public Health Institute.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Clinical Standards Board was established in April 1999 and incurred expenditure of approximately £850,000 in its first year. The board has an allocation of £3 million for 2000-01. Details will be published in the board's annual accounts, which I understan…