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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-22527

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 23 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what NHS support is available to people who have Prader-Willi syndrome.

There are a range of services and support for people with Prader-Willi syndrome. For example, for specialist care there is a Prader-Willi syndrome multidisciplinary clinic, held quarterly at the Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Yorkhill Glasgow. In addition, care and on-going support in childhood is provided through paediatrics, community paediatrics and specialist education for children. Similarly, input from dietetics, endocrine and medical services is available to those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome as part of routine NHS provision.

Question reference: S4O-03521

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for children who require an upgraded cochlear implant processor.

Question reference: S4W-22403

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19375 by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 February 2014, whether the review of the Clean Air Act 1993 has been completed and, if so, whether the current guidance is to be strengthened in relation to the enforcement of the Act to address the emission of particulates from domestic wood burning stoves.

The review of the Clean Air Act 1993 is being undertaken jointly with the other UK administrations and is still ongoing. It is due to be completed in early 2015. After this, a decision will be made on whether the current guidance requires updating.

One element of the review has been completed and is being implemented by the Scottish Government. Under section 50 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, the procedure by which fuels and exempted fireplaces are approved is changing from one requiring regular changes to a statutory instrument to an administrative system. The new approach will be quicker and more efficient, and allows manufacturers and suppliers to start marketing their products as soon as approval has been granted, rather than having to wait for the periodic updates of regulations and orders. A similar legislative change for England and Wales is currently being considered by the UK Parliament.

Question reference: S4W-22402

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19374 by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 February 2014, when it will issue new guidance to local authorities in respect of their local air quality management (LAQM) duties.

Work to revise the LAQM system is currently ongoing, taking into account the outcomes of the 2013 consultation. The intention is to have the revised system in place for the start of the next local authority reporting year in April 2015, including updated guidance.

The member may also be interested to know that work on the national Low Emission Strategy is progressing, which will include a section on renewable energy and biomass. A draft of the strategy is due to be presented at the Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership annual conference in November 2014, and will then be subject to further consultation.

Question reference: S4W-22288

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 21 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used when determining whether a child’s cochlear implants should be replaced.

Each child receives at least an annual review. This review for each child assesses the performance of the sound processor, makes adjustments to the processor to maximise performance and assesses clinical benefit. Where insufficient clinical benefit is obtained a replacement processor will be offered and this will be an upgraded processor where available.

All patients receive a replacement processor when the processor is lost or is damaged beyond repair outwith the assessment process.

Question reference: S4W-22285

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many children are waiting to have cochlear implants updated.

Question reference: S4W-22287

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how much it costs to replace a cochlear implant in a child.

A cochlear implant is a surgically embedded device. The cost of a unilateral cochlear implant is £20,722. This cost includes the internal component (the cochlear implant) and the external component (the sound processor at £5,000) and also includes theatre staff and ward costs.

The cost for a bilateral cochlear implant is £31,798. This cost includes a reduction on the cost of the second implant and the cost of two sound processors (£10,000) and theatre staff and ward costs.

Question reference: S4W-22286

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget for upgrading cochlear implants in children is for 2014-15.

Upgrades are possible for the external sound processor component of the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant as an internally embedded device is only replaced if there is equipment failure or medical complications (these are rare occurrences).

The budget for maintaining, replacing and upgrading sound processors is a unified budget and is not broken down by children and adults.

The budget for sound processor upgrades in 2014-15 is £271,000 and for 2015-16 is £601,000.

The total budget for maintaining, replacing and upgrading sound processors is £978,000 for 2014-15 and £1,308,000 for 2015-16. This is up from £800,000 in 2013-14.

Question reference: S4W-22281

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how often cochlear implants in children should be (a) reviewed, (b) replaced and (c) upgraded.

a) There is no specific guidance on the frequency of reviewing cochlear implant equipment in children. Nonetheless all Scottish child users of cochlear implants are currently reviewed at least on an annual basis and the functionality of their implants and sound processors is reviewed at this time.

b) The internal cochlear implants are replaced as required either due to equipment failure or medical complications (these are rare occurrences). If there is a failure of an external sound processor then this is replaced as required. In addition, all sound processors lost or damaged beyond economic repair are replaced immediately.

c) Upgrade or provision of new sound processors should be provided on average at five yearly intervals, in order to ensure patient access to up to date technology and to maximise their hearing performance and subsequently outcome from the intervention.

Question reference: S4W-22284

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many children are waiting to be fitted with cochlear implants.