Euan Robson

11 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations HM Inspectorate of Education has made about incorporating achievement of secondary school pupils on courses other than those leading to public examinations when national statistics are compiled.

Answer · Peter Peacock: In<i> Improving Scottish Education</i>,published in February 2006, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education reported thatmeasures of attainment should be extended to include the broader achievements ofyoung people. I refer the member to the answer to question …

11 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken when national statistics are compiled of the achievements of secondary school pupils on courses other than those leading to public examinations.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is determinedto secure better recognition of wider achievement in school education. As part of the Curriculum for Excellence programme, we are currently considering how best torecognise the wider achievements of all young people across …

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures need to be taken at the property of the victim of the case of anthrax in the Scottish Borders, both to confirm the source and to render the area harmless, and how long it is estimated that this process will take.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27842 answered on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether precautions need to be taken by those in charge of livestock, in terms of the protection of both human and animal health, as a result of the case of anthrax reported in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No additional precautions byanimal-keepers are required in response to the recent finding of Anthrax in ahuman in the Scottish Borders. Animal-keepers, particularly those who keep cattleand pigs, have an obligation to report any unexplained sudden deaths of t…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any risk to animal health from the case of anthrax reported in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no reason to believethat Anthrax in the Scottish Borders originated from the domestic animalpopulation and no evidence to suggest that any domestic animals have been atrisk of infection.</p>

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will be clear that other cases of anthrax will not occur as a result of the case reported in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27842 answered on 11 September 2006, All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is potentially at risk, however small, of contracting anthrax following the single incidence of the disease in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27842 answered on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Public Health Scotland was first advised of a definite diagnosis of anthrax by specialist laboratories following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders and when Public Health Scotland informed NHS Borders of that diagnosis.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27842 answered on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was a preliminary diagnosis of anthrax by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary or by specialist laboratories following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders and, if so, whether NHS Borders was informed and by whom.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27842 answered on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what complex and time-consuming tests, as described in the press statement of 16 August 2006 by Health Protection Scotland, were undertaken by specialist laboratories following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27842 answered on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at which specialist laboratories in England diagnostic tests were carried out following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the question S2W-27842 answeredon 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the press statement of 16 August 2006 by Health Protection Scotland, when tests to identify the responsible disease were commenced at specialist laboratories in England following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Investigations arecontinuing into the death in July of a man from anthrax. Disclosure of thisinformation may prejudice these investigations.</p>

11 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any regulatory requirement on local authorities to cut grass and trim vegetation from the edge of roadways to any given distance therefrom within an area covered by a speed limit.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Local authorities have powersand a general duty under section 1 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage andmaintain all public roads in their area.</p><p>There is no specific regulatoryrequirement for carrying out maintenance work such as cutting grass and…

28 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help to raise awareness of diabetes among at-risk communities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: <i>Delivering for Health</i> committed the Executive to strengthening primary careservices in deprived areas to deliver “anticipatory care”. This approach, which is being taken forward throughthe ‘Prevention 2010’ pilots, will ensure that people at greatest r…

28 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish an estimate of the number of current undiagnosed cases of diabetes and what plans it has to publish this figure annually.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Work is in hand to publish regularlyupdated information about the prevalence of diabetes, including estimates ofundiagnosed cases, on the Scottish Public Health Observatory website <ahref="http://www.scotpho.org.uk/">www.scotpho.org.uk</a>. The first set of t…

28 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Medicines Consortium is for 2006-07 and will be for 2007-08.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-27176, answered on 25 July 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

28 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Medicines Consortium was in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04, (d) 2004-05 and (e) 2005-06.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table providesthe figures requested:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=76 valign=top> <p>Year</p> </td> <td width=95 valign=top> <p align=center>Budget</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td width=7…

28 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many head teacher posts in the current financial year are shared between schools, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The 2005 Teacher Censusprovides the following information on shared headteacher posts. Information isnot held in terms of financial years.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top> <p>Headteacher …

7 Jun 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is planned to bring home loss payments in respect of compulsory purchase orders in Scotland into line with those in England and Wales.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Executive is consideringthe appropriate level of home loss payments for Scotland and will consider bringingforward proposals in due course, should a change in levels be required.</p>

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is NHS practice to offer children undergoing surgery for obesity on the NHS support and guidance to facilitate a change in lifestyle and prevent recurrence of weight problems.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The practice of surgery for obesityon children is rare. NHS treatment for obesity in childhood should be in line withthe Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network’s clinical guideline on the Managementof Obesity in Children and Young People which is availab…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which medical conditions, other than obesity, have been cited as requiring liposuction to be performed on the NHS on children under 16.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The total number ofepisodes involving children receiving liposuction procedures over the period 2000-2005was 47. The following table lists the conditions for which this treatment was given.</p><p>Main Diagnosis Made for ChildrenUnder 16 Years Old, Receiving a…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure was incurred by each NHS board on printing services in the last two financial years and what budgetary allocations have been made for 2006-07 for this purpose.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Total NHSScotland expenditureon print services for 2003-04 and 2004-05 was £6 million and £5.7 million respectively.Total spend for 2005-06 is currently not available centrally.</p><p>No specific allocation is madeto NHS boards for expenditure on print servic…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for the purchase of printing services by NHS boards.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The services suppliers provideunder the national Print Services contract for NHS boards and Special Health Boardsare:</p><p>(a)delivery to a central receiving point (or to desk top if required) against purchaseorders, or</p><p>(b)bulk deliveries to a central …

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions there have been with printing companies regarding contracting printing services for the NHS.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Prior to the award of a nationalcontract, NHSScotland, in accordance with the requirements of European Public ProcurementLegislation designed to ensure fair and open competition for any contracts awarded,published a notice in the <i>Official Journal of the Eu…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is centralised procurement in respect of the purchase or provision of printing services for the NHS.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A national contract for the provisionof Print Services to NHSScotland was awarded on 7 December 2004 and commenced on1 February 2005. The contract is a framework agreement and will run forthree years with a possible extension of one year.</p><p>This contract …

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects there to be a return to a full and regular supply of hormone replacement medication.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)is responsible for the policy and regulation of product information formedicines.</p><p>The agency has advised that theyare working closely with the pharmaceutical company involved to fa…

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of occupancy has been in each neonatal unit in each year since 1997.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isgiven in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39729).</p>

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist neonatal ambulances there are in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are currently fivespecialist neonatal ambulances in Scotland. These vehicles have been specifically designed forthe neonatal transport service and tailored to meet the needs of newborn babiesand the medical staff. We believe that they are currently the …

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) in-utero and (b) ex-utero transfers from Scotland to locations outside Scotland have taken place in each year since 1997.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isnot held centrally. This is a matter for individual NHS boards.</p>

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adult intensive care beds, (b) adult high dependency care beds, (c) paediatric intensive care beds, (d) paediatric high dependency care beds, (e) neonatal intensive care cots and (f) neonatal high dependency care cots there were in the most recent year for which figures are a…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The specific informationrequested is not held centrally. It is not possible to separately identifyadult and paediatric intensive care/high dependency beds. Similarly, it is notpossible to separate information held on neonatal cots into different caretypes i.e…