Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have contracted lung cancer through smoking in the last year for which figures are available in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow Kelvin.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The exact number of people contracting cancer as a direct result of smoking is unknown. The numbers of lung cancer cases diagnosed during 1996 and 1997 in the areas of interest are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=351><TR><TD WIDTH="…
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost is to Greater Glasgow Health Board of smoking related illnesses.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information is not held centrally. The precise cost of smoking related disease is difficult to ascertain, since cost data collected centrally from the National Health Service in Scotland cannot be attributed to individual disease. However, a report on hos…
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the estimated number of young people who smoke in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow Kelvin.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Current estimates would suggest that about 12% of under 16's in Scotland are regular smokers with a further 9% occasional smokers (source: Office for National Statistics, "Smoking, drinking and drug use among young teenagers in 1998", Volume 2: Scotland).<P A…
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs to the individual are of nicotine replacement therapy.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is not possible to estimate the costs to the individual of nicotine replacement therapy because these will vary according to the preparation and dosage used, and the stage of treatment.
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any evidence on the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy in (a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any trials in Scotland related to the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). However, I am aware that there have been over 90 randomised controlled trials related to various forms of NRT undertaken elsewher…
14 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking any initiatives on nicotine replacement therapy.
Answer · Susan Deacon: In line with the measures in <I>Smoking Kills</I>, health boards were issued in April 1999 with guidance about extending and developing NHS efforts to help people stop smoking. One of the measures included the provision of one week's free nicotine replacement…
14 Jun 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking any initiatives on smoking aimed at primary school-age children.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Advice provided by the Scottish Executive gives health education, including about tobacco and smoking, a secure place within the curriculum and seeks to ensure that it is provided in all schools.
5 Jun 2000 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether he will make a statement about the cross-examination of victims in rape trials.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish Ministers have instructed that proposals are developed to prevent an accused person charged with a sex offence from cross-examining a victim personally and to strengthen provisions restricting cross-examination on sexual history. Work has already beg…
1 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the traffic and travel implications of moving children's services from Yorkhill to the Southern General Hospital have been fully considered by the Greater Glasgow Health Board in its Acute Services Review, particularly in relation to the likelihood of the Clyde Tunnel being closed…
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7507.
1 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation the Greater Glasgow Health Board is undertaking with the local Yorkhill community council, school, and housing association, as well as with Glasgow parents' organisations, in the review of Yorkhill NHS Trust as part of the Acute Services Review.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to written question S1W-7507.
1 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Greater Glasgow Health Board is satisfied that it has completed delivery of the Acute Services Review leaflet to every household in the board's area.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Greater Glasgow Health Board.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">I have, however, made it clear that before taking decisions affecting local communities, it is essential that those providing the services enter into full and meaningful consultation involvi…
1 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4576 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, whether it will consider making representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of a transfer of funds paid to the Department of Health by the Irish Government for ECMO treatment carried out by the NHS in…
Answer · Susan Deacon: No. A once and for all transfer of funds was made to the health budget for Scotland by the Department of Health in 1989 to meet the costs of treatment carried out in Scotland under the reciprocal health care agreement. The cost to health boards of care provid…
31 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortfall of university applications in the field of engineering and, if so, what the shortfall is.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Figures are not held centrally on any targets set by individual higher education institution for the number of applications to engineering courses.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">As at 16 May 2000, there had been 11,669 applications for engineering and technology courses …
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what would happen to the #7 million operating theatre complex opened at Yorkhill Hospital last year if the Trust is transferred to a new site at the Southern General in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of local community involvement and local volunteers Yorkhill NHS Trust currently engages.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive fully recognises the important role that the local community and local volunteers play in supporting NHS services and in December published guidance to assist Trusts in implementing volunteering policies.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Yorkhill NHS Trust cur…
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to use expertise available within the Yorkhill NHS Trust to shape a strategy on the health needs of mothers and their children within the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is for Greater Glasgow Health Board to develop strategies to meet the needs of its local population including mothers and their children.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to use expertise available within the Yorkhill NHS Trust to develop a strategic plan for child services in Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to improving child health and children's health services across Scotland. In order to achieve this the best use will be made of expertise from all areas of the health service in Scotland.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue its position as a Trust focused on the health needs of mothers and children if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue its level of engagement in research and development if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue as the site of the West of Scotland Genetic Service if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue as a tertiary medical centre for foetal medicine and paediatric sub-specialities if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue to house eight University of Glasgow departments if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue as a principal academic centre of maternal and child health if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board currently has under way two reviews involving full public consultation exercises, one on its proposals to modernise acute hospital services across the city, the other specifically about the future role of the Yorkhill NHS Trust. T…
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are being taken to attract young people into engineering.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Ministers are determined to break down the old barriers to participation in careers in engineering. A number of Career Service companies are now tackling stereotype images through project work with children from primary 6 and 7. These projects introd…
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to discourage any graduate leakage from engineering into other careers.
Answer · Henry McLeish: There may be a number of reasons why students choose not to pursue a career in their choice of subject following graduation. According to latest figures available, 75% of engineering graduates who obtain full-time permanent employment, either in the UK or abr…
25 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5503 by Susan Deacon on 5 April 2000, whether it will consider Scottish medical opinion on all possible models of the condition Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis before adapting or adopting the findings of the Chief Medical Officer's…
Answer · Susan Deacon: I would expect the Chief Medical Officer's Working Group itself to have considered all possible models of CFS/ME before making its report. We will certainly be seeking the views of our own medical advisers on the report, and if they think it would be advisabl…
25 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5502 by Susan Deacon on 5 April 2000, whether it will consider all possible factors, not just the psychological ones, affecting the condition Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis before adapting or adopting the findings of the Chief Med…
Answer · Susan Deacon: I would expect that the Chief Medical Officer's Working Group itself will have considered all possible factors affecting the condition. The help of the ME Alliance was sought to ensure that the group reflects a broad range of both patient and professional opi…
22 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what are the policing implications and estimated costs of the Mike Tyson fight taking place at Hampden Park.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Strathclyde Police will arrange appropriate policing to ensure public safety and minimise disruption in the area surrounding the venue, as they would for any major sporting event. No estimate of costs is available at present.
22 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Historic Scotland grant of #3.6 million for the Merchant City in Glasgow will be spent on the Saltmarket area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Historic Scotland has not awarded a grant of £3.6 million for the Merchant City in Glasgow. The Heritage Lottery Fund earlier this year announced an award of £1.6 million, under the Fund's Townscape Heritage Initiative, for a pilot project to assist the upgra…
22 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the proposals for housing stock transfer, the right to buy and the current discount will be retained.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Current arrangements allow for tenants to transfer with a preserved right to buy. Detailed proposals for a modernised right to buy will be announced in early summer as part of the forthcoming Housing Bill.