Parliamentary questions
Ian McKee
93 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Feb 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of NHS Lothian.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Ministers and Government officials meet representatives of all NHS boards on a regular basis. Forthcoming meetings with representatives of NHS Lothian will cover a wide range of matters of current interest to the NHS in Scotland in general and to NHS Lothian …
11 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards provide funding for eculizumab for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Eculizumab is not recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for use within NHSScotland. As a result, each individual case needs to be considered by the host NHS board according to the specific needs of each individual patient.</b></p> <p >Information …
11 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria are treated with eculizumab.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Seven Scottish patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria are currently treated with eculizumab through the UK designated specialist service, which provides an outreach clinic in Monklands Hospital, Lanarkshire.</b></p>
10 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initial resources are being made available to NHS boards and Special Health Boards in 2011-12.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards revenue resource funding will increase overall by 3.2% in 2011-12. Special Health Boards receive an general uplift of 1%; a differential efficiency target has been set for Special Health Boards services not delivering direct patient care to improve…
9 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to the Scottish Football Association and other football governing bodies in each of the last 10 years for which information is available and on what contractual basis
Answer · Shona Robison: In the three years from 2008-09, the Scottish Football Association was awarded £2.535 million direct from the Scottish Government to deliver a wide range of football opportunities as part of the Cashback for Communities programme. A further £2 million has bee…
28 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to Scottish Rugby Union in each of the last 10 years for which information is available and what the contractual basis was for such payments.
Answer · Shona Robison: In the three years from 2008-09, Scottish Rugby was awarded £1.415 million direct from the Scottish Government to deliver a wide range of rugby opportunities as part of the government''s Cashback for Communities programme.</b></p> <p >Scottish Rugby has rece…
1 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to create a cancer drugs fund to improve access to ultra-orphan treatments.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will give due consideration to the Department of Health cancer drugs fund consultation findings once they are published.</b></p> <p >Scotland has robust, equitable and transparent arrangements for the introduction of newly licensed cl…
1 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make extra funds available or adapt the existing Scottish Medicines Consortium health technology assessment process in order to improve access to ultra-orphan treatments.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to make extra funds available. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) gives due consideration to its processes on a regular basis.</b></p> <p >Scotland has a robust, equitable and transparent arrangements for t…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it expects the financial consequences for Scotland will be as a result of the proposed reforms of the NHS in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health is a devolved matter and therefore changes proposed by the UK Government to NHS services in England do not have a direct impact on NHSScotland, however we are working with colleagues in the Department of Health to keep in touch with ongoing development…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it expects the proposed reforms of the NHS in England to have in Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35559 on 23 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the interim Process Evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Orders II Pilot.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The interim Process Evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Order II (DTTO II) Pilot in the Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority has been published today on the Scottish Government website.</p> <p >The evaluation provides indicative evidence …
20 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the frequency is of reviews of the sterling/euro exchange rate for the purposes of payment for high pruning of trees in accordance with the rates indicated in the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The payment rates for all rural priorities and wider Scotland Rural Development Programme measures are set out in the programme document, and are only amended if a modification is made to the programme to do so. The Sterling/Euro exchange rate used in calcula…
20 May 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Opera and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I met Scottish Opera and the four other National Performing Companies on 17 May 2010. We discussed areas of mutual interest including the companies'' education work and international profile, the outlook for public expenditure, and scope for collaboration bet…
19 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of a rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% would be for NHS boards in Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The estimated implication of a rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% for NHS boards in Scotland is shown in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=219 valign=top > <p align=center >NHS Boards</p> …
5 May 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines the law officers will provide regarding the potential prosecution of a person assisting another to end his or her life.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: Any decision to prosecute is a matter for the Lord Advocate acting independently and in the public interest. Every case is considered on its own individual facts and circumstances and the Law Officers do not consider it appropriate to publish definitive prose…
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initial revenue resources are being made available to NHS boards and Special Health Boards for 2010-11.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Total initial revenue resources of £8.464 billion are being allocated to NHS boards and Special Health Boards for 2010-11.</p> <p >Each territorial Board will receive, as a minimum, an uplift in revenue resources in 2010-11 of 2.55% with those boards who are…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in the last three years patients’ medical records have been accessed by inspection teams in relation to (a) child protection and (b) general children’s services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not centrally hold information on the number of occasions where patients'' medical records have been accessed by inspection teams in relation to (a) child protection and (b) general children''s services across the NHSScotland. NHS…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what purpose individuals other than the clinical team caring for the patient can access a patient’s medical records without explicit patient consent.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are a range of inspection agencies and regulatory bodies such as the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, The Care Commission and GMC who have statutory powers to access an individual''s medical records as part of their duties to investigate matters such a…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in addition to the clinical team caring for a patient, what individuals have the legal authority to access a patient’s medical records without explicit patient consent.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Individuals working on behalf of a statutory inspection agency or regulatory body may access a medical record without the express permission of a patient.</p> <p >Records may also be made available to legal advisers as part of legal proceedings.</p>
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage links between sexual health services and alcohol misuse services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has identified sexual health outcomes for Scotland''s sexual health strategy, <i >Respect and Responsibility, </i>for 2008-11. These include the need to ensure that all sexual health consultations include health improvement interventio…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the link between excess alcohol consumption and unplanned pregnancy.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29927 on 8 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the link between excess alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted infections.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is clear that alcohol misuse is linked to risk-taking behaviours, including having unprotected sex. Unprotected sex, in turn, has implications in the spread of sexually transmitted infections, and can also lead to unplanned pregnancies…
7 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to take action in response to the Scottish Law Commission reports on succession and on damages.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Law Commission has produced helpful reports on succession and on damages. The commission''s report on Succession (No.215, 2009) was published on 15 April and, having provided the Scottish Government''s initial response on 13 July, I subsequently …
19 Nov 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to the textiles industry during the economic recession.
Answer · Jim Mather: This government is committed to doing everything it can to help businesses and industry during the economic downturn. A wide range of support from across the broader public sector has been tailored to suit the specific needs of the Scottish textile industry. …
3 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way the new Scottish Clinical Leadership and Excellence Award Scheme for hospital consultants will reward outstanding performance in a fairer manner.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm">http://www.scot…
2 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with Edinburgh City Council in the last 12 months on the subject of the Edinburgh trams project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-01.htm">http://www.scot…
27 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific medical research, at national and global level, has been carried out in relation to the safety of the influenza A(H1N1) vaccine and what the potential side effects or health risks of the vaccine are, particularly for young children.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) is responsible for licensing of influenza A(H1N1) vaccines in the European Union. Four ˜mock-up'' vaccines have already been approved in the EU as part of pre-pandemic preparedness work, based on data generated with a viru…
27 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken as a result of the findings of the Minister for Community Safety’s autumn tour of Scotland during which he met key stakeholders from the drugs field.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A year on from the publication of Scotland''s first drugs strategy since devolution, I am pleased to have the opportunity to inform Parliament of the work that is being taken forward following my Autumn Tour of Scotland (available in Scottish Parliaments Info…
7 May 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that suitable mechanisms are in place to allow effective review of the future of listed buildings when their preservation threatens other community interests.
Answer · Michael Russell: There are mechanisms in place to review the future of listed buildings; these take into account wider community benefits. The listed building consent process in particular exists to allow appropriate alteration, re-use and, in certain circumstances, demolitio…
23 Apr 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps are in place to support the NHS in handling pandemic flu.
Answer · Alex Salmond : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…