Parliamentary questions
Nanette Milne
1,264 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: Data on incidence rates for cancer diagnosis is not recorded by occupation and therefore, data on melanoma among agricultural workers in Scotland is not available. General population based statistics for skin cancer are available from the NHS Information Ser…
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many police (a) visits to schools and (b) road safety education events there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the road safety education provided by the police.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The police in Scotland operate independently of Ministers and Road Safety is an operational matter for the Chief Constable and the Scottish Police Authority. However, I am aware that review of Police Road Safety Education was carried out in 2011 for the Scott…
2 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding calls to reopen the market for Scotch beef in Japan.
16 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources it provides to help with the appointment of skin cancer specialist nurses.
Answer · Alex Neil: While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality health care in Scotland, it is for each NHSScotland board to decide how best to deliver those services, including specialist nursing services, taking into account n…
16 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many skin cancer specialist nurses each NHS board has (a) employed and (b) appointed in each year since 1999.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on skin cancer specialist nurses, that each NHS board has employed and appointed, in each year since 1999 is not available. However, statistical information regarding numbers of skin cancer specialist nurses is available from 2004 and can be acce…
6 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the advisory services that it provides to farmers to help with administration arising from the common agricultural policy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Draft EU regulations published by the European Commission, as part of the Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals for 2014-20, include specific reference to the Farm Advisory Services provision. The proposals have been subject to discussion and stakehold…
6 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the development of new IT software ahead of the implementation of the reform of the common agricultural policy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have commenced a significant programme of work to update the business and IT processes which underpin the delivery of rural payments and inspections and to deliver CAP Reform. This is a long term programme of IT enabled business change, which will deliver …
6 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the provision of abattoirs across the country.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The provision of abattoirs across the country is a key consideration for the Scottish Government to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in Scotland to process the output of the livestock sector. That is why we have awarded grant support totalling £9.7 mi…
6 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding the provision of abattoirs in the north east.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises the pivotal role that the processing sector plays within the supply chain and is in regular discussions with a number of parties on the provision of abattoirs in the North East, including the proposed new facility at Inverur…
10 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on minimum standards of training for healthcare assistants as recommended in The Cavendish Review: An Independent Review into Healthcare Assistants and Support Workers in the NHS and social settings.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The recommendations within the Cavendish Review are very broad, and primarily focus on the healthcare support workforce arrangements and issues that apply in England. Scotland led the way in employer-led regulation of healthcare support workers (HCSW) by int…
3 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has sourced blood donations from (a) the National Blood Service, (b) the Welsh Blood Service and (c) the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and, if so, how much has been sourced in each year since 1999.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table details the number of units of blood products imported by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) from outside sources since 1999. It is important to note that SNBTS also exports blood products to the other UK Blood Servic…
3 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service met the demand for blood from NHS boards in the last year through donations from people domiciled in Scotland only.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has always met the transfusion needs of patients in Scotland, however it should be noted that for rare components for named patients, it is sometimes required to import components from outwith Scotland. The Nati…
3 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the NHS Blood and Transplant Organ Donation and Transplantation Directorate regarding the availability of blood and organ donations if Scotland becomes independent.
Answer · Alex Neil: Blood policy is already fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is the specialist provider of transfusion medicine in Scotland, supplying high quality blood, tissues, cells and services. Their key priority is…
3 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people domiciled in Scotland who received NHS organ donations in hospitals in (a) England and (b) Wales in the last year.
Answer · Alex Neil: The answer to the question is set out in the following table. Figures for Scotland are also included for comparison purposes. Lung and heart/lung transplantation is undertaken on the basis of a contractual arrangement with the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. A…
17 Jun 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it helps communities that want to achieve Blue Flag status for their beaches or marinas.
13 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14096 by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 April 2013, whether the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal TA114, Methadone and buprenorphine for the management of opioid dependence, has been compl…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: For Scotland, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisals are taken forward by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) who have responsibility for considering the applicability of NICE Technology Appraisals within the Scottish…
13 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14093 by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 April 2013, whether it will consult on the alcohol and drug quality improvement framework.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: To define the purpose and scope of the Quality Improvement Framework, Scottish Government officials established a short life working group on Quality Standards (SLWG). This is a reference group of senior stakeholders comprising representatives from Alcohol an…
13 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14093 by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 April 2013, whom it has asked to deliver the alcohol and drug quality improvement framework.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In keeping with the established Framework for Local Partnerships on Alcohol and Drugs: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/270101/0080412.pdf. The Quality Improvement Framework will be delivered at a local level under the leadership of Alcohol and Drug …
13 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14093 by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 April 2013, when it will deliver the alcohol and drug quality improvement framework.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The focus of the third phase of delivery of Scotland’s drug strategy, The Road to Recovery, is ensuring quality is embedded across all services in Scotland;quality in the provision of care, treatment and recovery services; and quality in the data that will ev…
23 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the proposals to close Arbroath and Stonehaven sheriff courts and the impact on communities in Angus and Kincardine-shire.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Court Service consultation Shaping Scotland’s Court Services represents a very thorough assessment of the context and the challenge of providing services and facilities across Scotland which are consistent with the standards of a modern court sys…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have taken place between the Health and Social Care Directorate and NHS Health Scotland to discuss the introduction of a new meningococcal B vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation schedule and who attended.
Answer · Michael Matheson: No specific meetings have taken place between the Health and Social Care Directorate and NHS Health Scotland to discuss the introduction of a new meningococcal B vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation schedule. The Scottish Immunisation Programme Co…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a new meningococcal B vaccine will be introduced into the routine childhood immunisation schedule before winter 2013.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce a new meningococcal B vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation schedule before winter 2013. The Scottish Government will consider any future recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Vac…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for vaccine introduction in Scotland following a Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation decision.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government considers all recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Once a JCVI recommendation is received and a decision is taken to introduce a programme, the Scottish Government works with colleagues i…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the introduction of a meningococcal B vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation schedule in light of a Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government awaits recommendations on the possible introduction of a meningococcal B vaccine from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The Scottish Government would always be guided by the JCVI in relation to timescales for…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what reassurance it can provide that health reforms in England will not delay the introduction of new vaccines in Scotland, such as a meningococcal B vaccine.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The health reforms in England will have no bearing in relation to timescales for the introduction of new vaccines in Scotland, including a meningococcal B vaccine.
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a meningococcal B vaccination programme.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There have been no formal discussions with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a meningococcal B vaccination programme. Informal discussions take place from time to time between officials in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland looking at…
29 Apr 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will cap the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project at the current estimate.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will direct NHS boards to introduce a targeted approach in order to improve the uptake of cervical screening.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Cervical Screening Programme is a whole population screening programme and there are no plans to change this. NHS boards have responsibility for publicising screening within their local area and working closely within their communities to increa…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening among (a) women over 50, (b) black and minority ethnic women and (c) women in work.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS boards have the responsibility for publicising screening within their local area and working closely within their communities to increase screening uptake. GPs also play a pivotal role in highlighting the benefits and risks of cervical screening to their …