Parliamentary questions
Nanette Milne
1,264 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve cervical cancer prevention and will take in the next 12 months.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Cervical Screening Programme invites all women aged 20 – 60 for screening every three years. Screening has been shown to be the best way to prevent cervical cancer. The Scottish Government is supporting NHS Boards to increase uptake of the screen…
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13134 by Alex Neil on 5 March 2013, whether it will provide the information broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on patients resident in Scotland who were treated in hospitals in England for each financial year from 1999-00 to 2011-12 has been provided. This information is for all inpatients and day cases (elective and emergency admissions). Information on …
5 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13443 by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2013, whether it plans to update the community pharmacy public health service for emergency hormonal contraception in light of recommendations by Community Pharmacy Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A small expert group is currently being set up to consider the provision of ulipristal acetate in Scotland. This group will consider the available evidence and make recommendations based on this evidence. This will include consideration of access to uliprista…
5 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13443 by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2013, what assessment it has made of the potential improvements to sexual health services that could be achieved through enabling access to ulipristal acetate through pharmacies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A small expert group is currently being set up to look at the provision of ulipristal acetate in Scotland. This group will consider the available evidence and make recommendations based on this evidence on the provision of ulipristal acetate in Scotland. This…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the percentage of opioid drug users in treatment in Scotland is lower than in (a) England and (b) other European countries and, if so, what analysis it has made of the reasons for this.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: It is not possible from the data currently available to make direct comparisons between the percentage of people with opioid addiction in drug treatment in Scotland compared to England and other European countries. The Scottish Government continues to work c…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2011 to supply written information for people receiving treatment for drug addiction to ensure informed patient choice on all treatment options across each NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government’s national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery, published in 2008 and re-affirmed with cross-party support by this Parliament in 2012, still stands strong as the key over-arching policy document for the delivery of recovery-focused su…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to increase access to buprenorphine, as recommended by the National Forum on Drug-related Deaths in 2011.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Decisions on the type of treatment for problem drug use are for professionals, in discussion with their clients to agree upon within the context of long term recovery. The Scottish Government’s national drugs strategy the Road to Recovery is clear; that subs…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) prepare an evidence-based guideline on recovery from opiate drug addiction in line with the outputs of the independent expert group on opiate replacement therapies.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is committed to improving all aspects of quality in how drug treatment is delivered in Scotland. The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, is currently leading an independent expert group to gather evidence on opiate replacement the…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that evidence-based guidelines from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) allow for best practice to be implemented across the country.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) provides robust, evidence based clinical practice guidelines for NHSScotland. These provide the evidence base for NHS boards to identify and implement the best practice locally, it is the responsibility o…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the National Forum of Drug-related Deaths' recommendation in 2011 to urgently update the 2007 Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management, what (a) discussions it has had with or (b) recommendations it has made to the Department of Health.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has committed to revise the 2006 National Quality Standards for Substance Misuse Services through the development of an Alcohol and Drug Quality Improvement Framework. This Quality Improvement Framework is the focus of the next stage o…
2 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people resident in Scotland have become residents in care homes in England in each year since 1999 and at what cost.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is a matter for individual local authorities in Scotland. The information is not held centrally.
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has sought funding from local authorities in North East Scotland to assist with the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route but not from authorities in (a) Mid Scotland and Fife and (b) Lothian for the Forth Replacement Crossing.
Answer · Keith Brown: The funding arrangements were agreed in 2003 following the decision by the then Scottish Executive to promote the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as a trunk road in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils. These arrangements recognise the …
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact of the Forth Replacement Crossing will be (a) nationally and (b) in (i) Mid Scotland and Fife and (ii) Lothian.
Answer · Keith Brown: A survey of the business community in Fife, Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Forth Valley has shown that the potential for future traffic delays and disruption caused by major maintenance works on the existing Forth Road Bridge, which would require intrusive t…
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be (a) nationally and (b) in North East Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will provide substantial benefits nationally and across the whole of the North East and will provide a boost to the economy; increase business and tourism opportunities; improve safety; cut congestion as well as in…
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the (a) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and (b) Forth Replacement Crossing should be considered a national transport project.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is vital to the North east economy creating about 14,000 new jobs and bringing an additional £6 billion to the local economy over the next three decades. When completed it will form part of Scotland’s trunk road network c…
13 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the NHS of Scottish independence.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHSScotland is already operationally independent, and the Scottish Government’s White Paper for independence, including in relation to Health, will be published in the autumn of this year.
13 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people resident in Scotland have been treated in the independent health sector in England in each year since 1999 and at what cost.
Answer · Alex Neil: The specific information requested is not available centrally.
13 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what category of treatments people resident in Scotland have received in hospitals in England in each year since 1999.
Answer · Alex Neil: A copy of this information has been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 54798).
13 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which hospitals in England have treated people resident in Scotland in each year since 1999.
Answer · Alex Neil: A copy of this information has been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 54797).
20 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the NHS's provision of emergency hormonal contraception to assess whether there is a need to include newer and more effective methods of emergency contraception.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently two types of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) licensed for use in Scotland: Levonorgestrel (known as Levonelle) – which is widely available for use up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraception failur…
20 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve access to emergency hormonal contraception for women living in deprived areas.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) is widely available free of charge across Scotland from community pharmacies, sexual health clinics and GPs. Through the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework, the Scottish Government aims to reduce the health i…
20 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of unwanted pregnancies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework was published in August 2011 and contains five high level outcomes. The Scottish Government views the reduction of unintended pregnancies to be a priority and thus Outcome 1 of the Framework looks to achieve “…
18 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people resident in Scotland have been treated in hospitals in England in each year since 1999 and at what cost.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on patients resident in Scotland who were treated in hospitals in England for each financial year from 1999-00 to 2011-12 has been provided. This information is for all inpatients and day cases (elective and emergency admissions). Information on …
13 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to concerns expressed by parents in Aberdeenshire on constraints relating to S4 subject choice.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: National policy places no constraints on the number of subjects that can be studied in S4. Local authorities and schools will determine the number of subjects to be studied in S4. Decisions should be informed through engagement with parents and learners and b…
13 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions and (b) meetings ministers have had regarding the impact of independence for holders of Premium Bonds.
Answer · John Swinney: SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WRITTEN ANSWER 13 March 2013 Index Heading: Finance Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions and (b) meetings ministers have had regarding the i…
6 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide for a feasibility study into the reopening of the Formartine and Buchan railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: While we have received no formal proposal for the reopening of the Formartine and Buchan railway line, the Scottish Government is keen to improve access to the rail network across Scotland. In considering proposals to reopen former railway lines and stations…
6 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to take forward NHS Grampian's infrastructure projects.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is for NHS Grampian to plan and take forward its infrastructure projects. Scottish Government officials work closely with NHS Grampian on the delivery of its capital programme. The boards has submitted recently its draft five year capital plan for conside…
6 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is to increase access to sport in rural communities.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing participation in sport and physical activity at all levels across Scotland capturing the enthusiasm and excitement of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Our key ambition for ensuring a lasting legacy of the Games …
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will retain the Rare Conditions Medicines Fund after value-based pricing is introduced.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Rare Conditions Medicines Fund is an interim measure whose operation we will review in light of any changes to the access to medicines landscape that come as a consequence of our ongoing review and the introduction of value based pricing.
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-06398 by Alex Neil on 23 April 2012, what subsequent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of value-based pricing.
Answer · Alex Neil: I have exchanged correspondence with Earl Howe concerning Value Based Pricing and have received further assurances that the UK Government and Devolved Administrations will continue to work closely together in developing a value based pricing approach. Officia…