Patricia Ferguson

Answer · Maureen Watt · 9 Mar 2016

The Scottish Government is committed to protecting youngsters against meningitis B (Men B) which is why we launched a national Men B vaccination programme last year to tackle its effects. All children who are now aged up to nine months should have been offered the vaccine.
The Scottish Government is guided on vaccination policy by the independent expert body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). When any new vaccination programme is introduced, there has to be a date to determine eligibility – a decision based on the best independent clinical recommendation to ensure we can protect those children most at risk of Men B. The JCVI continues to monitor all available evidence in respect of recommendations, and advice can be updated if new information or evidence becomes available. In light of the recent petition regarding Men B, the Scottish Government has written to the JCVI to ask them to consider reviewing the evidence on their current advice to determine if it should be changed. We await their response. The Scottish Government will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of Men B vaccination.

Answer · Maureen Watt · 9 Mar 2016

The Scottish Government is committed to protecting youngsters against meningitis B which is why we launched a national Men B vaccination programme last year to tackle its effects. All children who are now aged up to nine months should have been offered the vaccine. The Scottish Government is guided on vaccination policy by the independent expert body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). When any new vaccination programme is introduced, there has to be a date to determine eligibility – a decision based on the best independent clinical recommendation to ensure we can protect those children most at risk of Men B.
Since 1 September 2015 infants have been offered the Men B vaccine at two, four and 12 months of age as part of the routine childhood vaccination programme. There was also a catch-up for infants aged three and four months attending for their routine vaccination appointments when the programme started. The JCVI recommended that the Men B vaccine be offered to infants before they reach five months of age because the number of Men B cases peaks at around five months of age before declining. Once the vaccine is given, it can take some time for the vaccine to take effect and for immunity to be established in the host. Therefore by giving the Men B vaccine before the peak in incidence of disease at five months of age, it allows for infants to be protected for the time when risk is greatest.
The JCVI continues to monitor all available evidence in respect of recommendations, and advice can be updated if new information or evidence becomes available. In light of the recent petition regarding Men B, the Scottish Government has written to the JCVI to ask them to consider reviewing the evidence on their current advice to determine if it should be changed. We await their response. The Scottish Government will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of Men B vaccination.

Answer · Derek Mackay · 8 Mar 2016

Electrification of the Glasgow Northern Suburban line is one of a number of options that are being considered as part of the electrification programme post 2019. Development work for the project is being taken forward by Network Rail and cost estimates and a supporting business case are expected to be submitted to ministers later in 2016 as part of the wider planning process. Future delivery will be dependent on this business case, consideration against other priorities, and sufficient resources being available.

Answer · Shona Robison · 26 Feb 2016

The latest information available from Information Services Division Scotland (ISD) shows that the average number of available staffed beds available in the dermatology specialty at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow is 11.8, for quarter ending September 2015. Information is not available centrally on the use of beds by other specialties.
Source: ISD(S)1, ISD Scotland

Answer · John Swinney · 11 Feb 2016

The First Minister met the leader of Glasgow City Council on 9 December 2015 and discussed a number of issues including the city's 2016-17 local government funding allocations.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham · 6 Jan 2016

The Scottish Government have looked at every possibility to oppose and restrict the implementation of the Trade Union Bill in Scotland. This has included engagement with trade unions and other parties to discuss how best to fight the Bill. As part of that process we have of course listened to advice, including legal advice. Other than in exceptional circumstances the content of any legal advice received by the Scottish Government remains confidential.