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In 2015, the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty met on 28 May 2015, and again with officials on 15 September 2015.

This year, the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty met, along with other stakeholders including the Independent Poverty Advisor, on 20 January 2016 to consider the future approach to tackling child poverty in Scotland in light of the changes being made by the UK Government to the Child Poverty Act 2010.

Responsibility for the Independent Living Fund (ILF) transferred from the UK Government to the Scottish Government on 1 July 2015. Data for the number of people in receipt of ILF prior to this date is therefore not the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

At the point of transfer on 1 July 2015, there were 2,812 people in receipt of ILF support in Scotland. All those users who have continued to remain eligible for ILF have continued to receive support from ILF Scotland.

The Registered Social Landlord (RSL) Adaptations budget of £10 million has been fully allocated and, following the conclusion of a recent review of the planned adaptations expenditure of all RSLs, we are confident the £10 million will be drawn down in full. We will provide details of 2015-16 adaptations spend by RSLs to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre when this is available.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30523 on 17 March 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30523 on 17 March 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Table 1 shows the number of registrations of breast cancer detected at stage (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3 and (iv) 4 and Not Known in the (A) most and (B) least deprived areas for Scotland, in 2013¹.

Table 1.

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2012 Quintiles

Stage		1 - Most deprived	5 - Least deprived
Stage I		310	438
Stage II		301	347
Stage III		99	122
Stage IV		11	13
Not Known		103	80

1 The staging information is obtained from the cancer registration records, the latest published information is for 2013, the 2014 data is due to be published in May 2016.

 

Table 2 shows the number of registrations of cervical cancer detected at stage (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3 and (iv) 4 and Not Known in the (A) most and (B) least deprived areas for Scotland, in 2013¹.

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2012 Quintiles

Stage		1 - Most deprived	5 - Least deprived
Stage I		49	25
Stage II		15	13
Stage III		16	2
Stage IV		7	2
Not Known		5	1

1 The staging information is obtained from cancer registration records, the latest published information is for 2013, the 2014 data is due to be published in May 2016

From 6 June 2016 the age range for routine screening will be changing from 20 to 60 and 25 to 65. Women aged between 20 and 24 already in the screening programme will still be included in the eligible population. The number of women invited to participate in the cervical screening programme fluctuates from year to year.

On screening issues we are advised by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about all aspects of screening.

The NSC reviewed the age range for cervical screening in 2012 considering all the available medical evidence regarding the risks and benefits of screening women under the age of 25 and recommended that cervical screening programmes should screen women routinely between the age of 25 and 64.

The NSC recently recommended the use of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as a primary test in cervical screening programmes. Currently the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme uses cytology testing to look for abnormal cells that could be the first sign of cancer. HPV testing is used as a secondary measure in women needing further investigation. Evidence suggests that screening for HPV first will be a more effective way to let women know whether they are at risk of developing cervical cancer. The Scottish Government is currently working with NHS Scotland on the development of a business case which will provide all of the detail required to make a considered decision on implementing HPV testing in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme.

From 1 June 2016 the age range for cervical screening will change from 20 to 60 years old and 25 to 65 years old.

No cost saving has been calculated, the changes to the age range and frequency of screening were reviewed as an improvement in clinical effectiveness as opposed to a potential cost savings delivery.

As part of the Detect Cancer Early Programme, the Scottish Breast Screening Programme recently transformed from older analogue equipment to digital technology along with the introduction of a new IT system.