- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 February 2010
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 safety of such products.
Answer
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 who are of the same view.
We are aware of the recent call for evidence from manufacturers on the safety of caffeinated alcoholic beverages by US Food and Drug Agency. We will review their findings should they be published and consider whether further research is necessary.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 February 2010
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
(a) The information requested on critical incident reviews is not centrally available.
(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 Scotland (GROS). This information requested can be found on the GROS Website:
The stillbirths figures for 2007 and 2008 are available from in the Vital Events Reference Table 1.3:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/vital- events/index.html
Preliminary figures for 2009 are scheduled to be published on 11 March 2010, in Table P2 of the 2009 version of Births, Marriages and Deaths - Preliminary Annual, which should then be available via this address:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/preliminary- return/index.html.
(at present, this link gives access to the 2008 version).
Figures for each of the first three quarters of 2009 are available from Table Q2 in the relevant editions of Births, Marriages and Deaths - Quarterly figures:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and- data/quarter/index.html.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the osteoporosis direct enhanced service will be continued in 2010-11.
Answer
Yes. The Osteoporosis Scottish Direct Enhanced Service will continue in 2010-11.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2010
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
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 our duty to report openly on matters which are in the public interest. There have, however, been two occasions on which complaints have been received by the Scottish Government in relation to information contained in Scottish Government news releases.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2010
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
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 will present their conclusions at the next meeting of the HAI Task Force on 31 March 2010.
The findings will be published, once an outcome from the review has been reached.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 5 February 2010
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
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.
Officials expect to respond to the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership about the study in the spring.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 3 February 2010
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 this group in the full screening programme in 2011.
Answer
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 to the vascular service for appropriate follow-up.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 February 2010
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
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 which provides advice on a range of mental health issues.
www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk.
The Scottish Government also provides core funding support to Samaritans who provide support to people in crisis by telephone and email.
In addition, the Steps for Stress National Mental Health Improvement Campaign was launched by the Scottish Government in November 2009. It has two aims, to facilitate self recognition of stress, and to inform positive choices around how to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing.
Both a booklet and website (http://www.infoscotland.org.uk/stepsforstress/) are available, giving advice on differing subjects such as money worries, unemployment, problems at work, family and relationship difficulties, physical health problems, the pressure of being a carer, bad experiences in the past, and being discriminated against. Each topic gives practical advice, and has contact details and telephone numbers of organisations which give specialist advice.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 29 January 2010
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
I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
There have been nine requests for repatriation from prisoners since April 2007. The Scottish Prisons Service does not routinely record the number of prisoners who have been recommended for deportation at the end of their sentence but notifies UKBA of all foreign nationals that enter our custody (irrespective of whether there is a recommendation for deportation). The notification of a recommendation for deportation is a matter for Scottish Court Service and UKBA.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 January 2010
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
HDL(2007)21,
Strengthening the Role of Managed Clinical Networks, 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 approach is intended to integrate the MCNs with NHS boards'' service planning function.
Prior to the start of the arrangements set out in HDL(2007)21, the diabetes MCNs in NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside had received NHS QIS accreditation.
