Brian Adam

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many adverse reactions in the use of factor (a) VIII and (b) IX in the treatment of haemophilia have been reported in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reported that it has received a total of 58 adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports associated with Factor VIII and 15 ADR reports associated with Factor IX in the last 10 years. The numbers of AD…

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its measures the efficacy of factor (a) VIII and (b) IX in the treatment of haemophilia and how efficacious each has been.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The efficacy of all Factor VIII and Factor IX products are assessed by clinical trials carried out in Haemophilia centres on behalf of the product manufacturers as a prerequisite to the manufacturer being granted a license to market the product by the Medicin…

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much factor (a) VIII and (b) IX has been used in the treatment of haemophilia; what proportion of each product was synthetic and how many patients were treated using each product, in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The details requested on the usage and type of products in each of the years from 1989-90 to 2002-03 are shown in the following tables.<P>Details of the how many patients were treated using each product are not held centrally.<P>Yearly Usage of Factor VIII in…

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of recent investigations into deficiencies at the Scottish Criminal Records Office.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) was the subject of a primary inspection by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary in 2000. There were two follow-up review inspections carried out in 2001 and 2002. The cost of these inspections cannot, however, be …

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any on-going investigations into potential miscarriages of justices as a consequence of identified weaknesses in procedures at the Scottish Criminal Records Office.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am not aware of any such investigations.

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent procedure to appoint a civilian head of the Scottish Criminal Records Office was open, transparent and accountable.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-01547 today, which can be found on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are used to advertise and appoint senior positions in the Scottish Criminal Records Office.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Recruitment to positions within the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) is the responsibility of the SCRO Executive Committee. The normal procedures are for the post to be advertised widely within the police service if the vacancy is for a serving officer …

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the date that the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will be fully implemented.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The announcement of 1 January 2005 as the date on which the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will be fully implemented has assisted Scottish public authorities in their preparations for the act by removing any uncertainties about when the new rights…

16 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by each local authority on the development of advocacy services to comply with the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is currently not held centrally. The Advocacy Safeguards Agency is conducting a mapping exercise which aims to produce a comprehensive picture of the provision and resourcing of advocacy services across Scotland. This process is expected to b…

15 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Agricultural College has received, or does receive, any funding under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The college does not receivespecific funding from the Executive for the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.</p><p>It is for the college toprioritise its expenditure requirements and allocate the funding that itreceives from the Executive and other funders acc…

15 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the funds allocated to the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) are allocated in recognition of its needs as a smaller college on three campuses.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department funds the provision ofeducation at the Scottish Agricultural College by grant-in-aid. Funds are not allocatedspecifically to recognise the size of the college or the distribution of itscampuses. …

15 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allocate funds to the Scottish Agricultural College in order to widen access to further and higher education.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department funds the provision ofeducation at the Scottish Agricultural College by a block grant-in-aid. Funds are not allocatedspecifically for widening access to further and higher education but the colle…

7 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when undergraduate courses on audiology will commence.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The provision of formal training in support of the recommendations on staffing contained in the Public Health Institute of Scotland report <I>NHS Audiology Services in Scotland</I> is currently under review and no decision has yet been made on how this will b…

7 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will tackle any backlog in audiological assessments in the Grampian NHS Board area and how this will impact on the Executive's targets for outpatient waiting times.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Reducing waiting is a priority for the Executive. This was set out in the health white paper, <I>Partnership for Care</I>. On Friday 13 June the Minister for Health and Community Care launched the Outpatient Action Plan which will help Scotland achieve the ma…

7 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to implement its targets for out-patient waiting times in specialities where there are staff shortages.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Outpatient Action Plan, launched on 13 June 2003, will help NHSScotland achieve the national maximum waiting time target of six months for a first outpatient appointment following GP referral, by 2005. The Centre for Change and Innovation will drive the i…

7 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts there are for trainee orthopaedic consultants; whether any representations have been made to increase the number of such consultants, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information provided by NHS Education for Scotland is that there were 57 specialist registrars in post in trauma and orthopaedic surgery at 31 March 2003. There has been an increase of seven posts over the past two years with the intention to increase by a fu…

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when cannabinoid trials will be concluded and when patients will have access to the treatment if the trials prove successful.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The trials have been completed by GW Pharmaceuticals and the results are currently being considered by The Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency. The Home Secretary has said that the UK Government will do whatever is needed to amend the law qui…

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish centres or patients are involved in cannabinoid trials.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The cannabinoid trials have been carried out by GW Pharmaceuticals. We do not hold information on locations or individuals involved in the trials.

4 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on progress that has been made with cannabinoid trials.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Advanced clinical trials into the development of a medicinal form of a cannabis-based drug have been completed by GW Pharmaceuticals. The findings have been submitted to the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency, who will report to the Home Off…

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with Aberdeen City Council about improvements at the Haudagain roundabout and the Persley Bridge on the A90.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has ongoing discussions with Aberdeen City Council on a range of trunk road issues.

2 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions on the cataloguing, preservation, restoration and maintenance of gravestones and graveyards as part of its genealogy tourism strategy.

Answer · Frank McAveety: VisitScotland recognise the importance of preserving historic graveyards and gravestones, since being able to see them is important for the many visitors interested in their Scottish ancestors. Historic Scotland publish a guide for practitioners on conservati…

2 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or any non-departmental public body, has any funds available for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of ancient gravestones and graveyards.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Historic Scotland, an agency within the Scottish Executive has grants available for the preservation and conservation of gravestones and burial grounds under its Ancient Monuments Grants scheme and for repairs to structures such as mausolea under its Historic…

2 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or any non-departmental public body, has responsibility for any graveyard.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Graveyards are the responsibility of local authorities and it is up to each local authority what provision it makes for graveyards within its area.<P>Eighty-four properties in the care of Historic Scotland (an agency within the Scottish Executive) have burial…

2 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review record-keeping practice within the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We are in the process of reviewing guidance on the retention, storage and destruction aspects of medical record keeping practice and revised guidance will issue in due course.

2 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology it uses to assess improvement in the people of Scotland's health.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are many methods used to assess improvement in the people of Scotland's health including:<P>assessing and monitoring progress against national targets and indicators, including those set out in <I>Improving Health In Scotland - The Challenge,</I> <I>Tow…

2 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to produce Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network guidelines regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was covered in SIGN Guideline 59, <I>Community Management of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection</I> in Adults, published in June 2002.

1 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive when the trials of direct supply of pharmaceuticals to patients were concluded; what the outcomes of the trials were; what new trials of direct supply of pharmaceuticals to patients are taking place; when any such trials will conclude, and what plans there are to supply…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Two pilot schemes for the direct supply of over-the-counter medicines to charge exempt patients were successfully completed last year. A detailed, independent evaluation was carried out and the research findings issued in March this year. The full evaluation …

1 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional services it is considering for inclusion in the new contract for a community pharmacy.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Discussions on the new contract are currently ongoing with the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council. Decisions on the content and range of services to be provided have yet to be made.

1 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend smoking cessation services to community pharmacies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The provision of smoking cessation services is a matter for individual health boards, and the Executive is aware that many boards already have Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Schemes in place. The Scottish Executive paper <I>The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Phar…

1 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in negotiating a new contract for a community pharmacy.

Answer · Tom McCabe: My officials are meeting regularly with the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council to negotiate a new community pharmacy contract. Positive progress is being made and announcements on the shape and content of the new contract will be made in due course.