Dr Richard Simpson

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by how much Quality and Outcomes Framework funding to GP practices for 2009-10 has (a) decreased and (b) increased as a result of the GP patient access survey for 2008-09.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) payments made to Scottish GP practices for the 2008-09 year totalled approximately £128 million, compared with approximately £131 million for 2007-08. The overall reduction in payments was as a consequence of a series of c…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it took to cross-check the validity of the responses to the GP patient access survey for 2008-09 before reducing GP practice Quality and Outcomes Framework funding.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Available Quality and Outcomes Framework funding was the same in 2008-09 as it was in the previous year. Changes in the way some of the points were allocated (as explained in the answer to question S3W-31402 on 25 February 2010) were agreed at the UK level. T…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the response rate was to the patient access questions in the GP patient access survey for 2008-09, broken down by (a) mean, (b) median and (c) standard deviation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The overall response rate to the 2008-09 GP patient access survey was 50%. However, the number of responses that could be used in the calculation of the QOF patient experience of access indicators PE7 and PE8 was less than the number of questionnaires that we…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it took to ensure the validity of the responses to the GP patient access survey for 2008-09.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The GP patient access survey was developed in consultation with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee and the Royal College of General Practitioners, and was cognitively tested by IPSOS Mori on members of the public. The questionnaire was sent to a com…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered evidence on the impact on health in reaching a decision on undergrounding sections of the Beauly to Denny power line and, if so, whether this should have led to an application of the precautionary principle as set out in the Rio Declaration and the Maastricht treaty.

Answer · Jim Mather: The possible health risks associated with exposure to electric and magnetic fields have been addressed in the report of the Technical Assessor appointed to the Beauly Denny Public Inquiry. I refer the member to the Technical Assessor''s report, a copy of whic…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish (a) a list of organisations and individuals consulted by ministers or officials after the public inquiry closed on the Beauly to Denny power line and (b) minutes of all such consultations.

Answer · Jim Mather: All evidence and other documentation submitted to the Public Local Inquiry, including responses submitted during the formal consultation periods, are in the process of being published on the Scottish Government''s website, and can be found at:</p> <p ><a hr…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Historic Scotland did not attend the public inquiry for the Beauly to Denny power line.

Answer · Jim Mather: Historic Scotland did not attend the Beauly to Denny public inquiry because they did not object to the application. Although Historic Scotland did not attend and give oral evidence, they did submit written evidence which was accepted by the reporters.</p>

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the overhead power line costs used in reaching its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line included the cost of mitigation measures.

Answer · Jim Mather: The approval in 2004 by Ofgem for the Beauly-Denny 400kV overhead line was informed by a cost benefit analysis, which was based upon a comparison of network capital and operation costs over time. The developers will be required to obtain approval from Ofgem f…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs (a) per kilometre of undergrounding and (b) of the overhead power line, including lifetime maintenance, were used in reaching its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line.

Answer · Jim Mather: An analysis of the economic case for the Beauly to Denny overhead line, and a number of alternative solutions including undergrounding, was undertaken by the Technical Assessor appointed to the Public Local Inquiry. I refer the member to the Technical Assesso…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria will be for assessing the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures in connection with the Beauly to Denny overhead power line.

Answer · Jim Mather: Measures for mitigating the impact of the Beauly to Denny upgrade on communities, on visual amenity and landscape, on the environment, on cultural heritage and on tourism are defined in the developer''s application, and in the conditions of the consent. It is…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered examples of undergrounding power lines in other European countries when making its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line.

Answer · Jim Mather: The issue of undergrounding was fully considered by the Technical assessor appointed to the Public Inquiry. I refer the member to the Technical Assessor''s report, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50006).…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) critical incident reviews were carried out and (b) stillbirths occurred in each NHS board area in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009

Answer · Shona Robison: (a) The information requested on critical incident reviews is not centrally available.</p> <p >(b) For the this part of the question, on stillbirths, the numbers of stillbirths by NHS board area are published regularly by the General Register Office for Scot…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29405 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 December 2009, when the short life group review of membership and terms of reference for the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force and Stakeholder Group will be published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Progress with the review was discussed at the 8 December 2009 meeting of the HAI Task Force. It was agreed that further work was needed to clarify future governance, remit and accountability arrangements. The short life group is taking this work forward and w…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions complaints have been received about the release of personal details related to deaths from influenza A (H1N1) and who was responsible for the release of such details in each case.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Throughout the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, we have been acutely aware of the sensitivities of families in relation to the deaths of their loved ones and have attempted to preserve the confidentiality of the person who died, while at the same time discharging…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the conclusions outlined in the Tay Estuary Rail Study submitted to Transport Scotland in June 2009 by the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently examining how the proposals of the Tay Estuary Rail Study align with the Scottish Government''s national priorities as outlined in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.</p> <p >Officials expect to respond to the Tayside and…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the BBC’s recent investigation, the crime reports from Strathclyde Police and the concerns being expressed in the United States of America regarding caffeinated alcoholic drinks, whether it has consulted anyone, in particular the Food Standards Agency, on the ill effects and …

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has reviewed the evidence on caffeinated alcoholic drinks and at present there is no evidence that these products cause particular ill effects or raise specific safety concerns. My officials are in touch with the Food Standards Agency …

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27866 by Shona Robison on 28 October 2009 and in light of the projected start date of 2011, whether it has considered interim measures to offer screening to all people with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm and whether it will include thi…

Answer · Shona Robison: Men with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurism will be invited for screening as a matter of routine at age 65. Family members who may be at increased risk because a sibling has been diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurism can be referred by their GP …

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28085 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2009, how many foreign nationals in Scottish prisons have (a) applied for prisoner transfer and (b) been recommended for deportation at the end of their sentence.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >There have been nine requests for repatriation from prisoners since April 2007. The Scottish Prisons Service does not routi…

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement an NHS stress hotline, given the recent launch of a similar service in England.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government already funds the Breathing Space telephone advice and signposting service for people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Available out of hours on 0800 83 85 87, this handles around 4,000 calls per month and has a website wh…

12 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are specifically identified champions or leaders in each local authority for commissioning good parenting programmes.

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is for local authorities and their partners (e.g. in the NHS) to make local decisions on commissioning parenting programmes. The Scottish Government recognises the crucial importance of parenting in the Early Years Framework. The framework highlights the i…

12 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made since publication of the Scottish Diabetes Survey 2008 in recording key measures for the estimated 10% for whom data were absent.

Answer · Shona Robison: The 2008 survey is clear that each NHS board needs to explore what is happening to the 10% of people for whom key diabetes measures were not recorded. In order to explore this, NHS Lothian conducted a follow-up audit of two diabetes clinics and found a variet…

12 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have a managed clinical network for diabetes that has been evaluated by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: HDL(2007)21, <i >Strengthening the Role of Managed Clinical Networks</i>, indicates that local MCNs are now expected to seek accreditation from their NHS board, rather than NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, at an appropriate stage in their development. This a…

12 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have a managed clinical network for diabetes.

Answer · Shona Robison: Each of the 14 NHS boards has a diabetes Managed Clinical Network.</p>

24 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information and guidance leaflets it has provided for pregnant women to assist them in deciding whether to seek vaccination against influenza A (H1N1) and to whom such literature has been distributed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An information leaflet entitled <i >Swine flu and pregnancy: How to protect yourself and your baby </i>has been published and is also available on the Scottish Government website. NHS health boards, GP practices and Midwifery departments have been supplied wi…

24 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information and guidance leaflets it has provided specifically for the use of parents considering whether to vaccinate their children under the age of five against influenza A (H1N1).

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An information leaflet entitled <i >Swine flu vaccination: information for parents of children over six months and under five years old </i>has been made available to parents of young children. NHS boards have been supplied with leaflets to distribute to pare…

17 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how successful the telephone-based cognitive behaviour therapy pilot scheme has been in terms of uptake and outcomes and what steps it is taking to roll out the scheme nationally.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is currently funding two telephone-based CBT pilot schemes: NHS Living Life, managed by NHS24, and WISH (Widening Access to Self Help), managed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Both pilots are currently subject to independent evaluati…

10 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the funding allocated to Clackmannanshire and Stirling in round three of the CashBack for Communities programme and what action will be taken in these areas to encourage organisations to apply for funding in round four.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date, the Scottish Government has committed to invest over £13 million in the CashBack for Communities programme, which includes diversionary and participatory projects for young people across Scotland.</p> <p >£4 million of this investment has been alloc…

10 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S3W-29371 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 December 2009, whether it will identify the company that is supplying the test material to be used in diagnostic laboratories.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The new testing algorithm for Clostridium difficile used by diagnostic laboratories is instructional in purpose only and does not advise or promote the use of a specific company''s product. It is for each diagnostic laboratory to determine local arrangements.…

9 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the value of any compensation claims submitted to Network Rail in relation to the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and who will be responsible for paying this compensation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under Part 1 of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 compensation may be payable providing qualifying property owners along the new railway line can demonstrate that they have suffered financial loss due to devaluation of a property as a result of the re…

9 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects further remedial work to be carried out on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line in the near future.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are no planned further remedial works on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line.</p>