- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8354 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, how the target of 60% for immunisation of the over 65 age group this year against influen'a compares with targets in comparable nations such as Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Ireland and Swit'erland.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8351 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, when it last received advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation with regard to the flu vaccination program for the over 65 age group this winter, and whether that body endorsed the 60% target.
Answer
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that the influenza vaccination programme be extended to those aged 65 years and over in March this year. The JCVI was not invited to suggest or endorse an uptake target for the programme.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths among the over 65s in winter 1999-2000 can be attributed to the influen'a outbreak.
Answer
It is not possible to give a precise answer. Even during a major influenza outbreak, it is relatively rare for the underlying cause of death to be classified as influenza because doctors do not often mention influenza on the certificate of cause of death. Provisional returns for the three months December 1999 to February 2000 show that influenza was mentioned for 164 deaths of persons aged 65 and over. Influenza was classified as the underlying cause of death for 137 of these. It is known that deaths from a number of other causes, notably pneumonia and other respiratory conditions, increase significantly during a period of high influenza activity. However, there is no standard method of associating a proportion of these extra deaths with influenza.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 19 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what promotional material will be available to encourage take-up of the flu vaccine by the over 65s this year and how any such material will be made accessible.
Answer
Publicity to accompany the flu vaccination programme is currently being considered by Scottish Executive Health Department officials and by the Winter Performance Group, which comprises a range of external professionals and NHS interests. I shall make an announcement on final plans later this year.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 19 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that alcohol abuse projects which are running successfully do not find their funding at risk after the start-up year, given that for every #1 of central funding, #3 must be sourced elsewhere.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to working with other funders to promote a stable funding environment for the voluntary sector including alcohol misuse projects. The Executive published Good Practice Guidance on funding of voluntary organisations to its Departments, Agencies and NDPB's on 13 June. The Executive actively supports three-year funding for voluntary organisations.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7855 by Henry McLeish on 26 June 2000, when the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council is expected to set up an office in Scotland.
Answer
The Gas and Electricity Consumers' Council will have an office serving Scotland, which will be based in Glasgow. Establishment of the Council will depend on the progress through Westminster of the Utilities Bill.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs Scottish Enterprise Borders helped to create in the last year.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to reply to the member. A copy of his reply will be placed in SPICe.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-7781 and S1W-7785 by Henry McLeish on 22 June 2000, how many firms the Scottish Energy Efficiency Office has contacted with regard to the climate change levy and what percentage of Scottish businesses this represents.
Answer
The information requested is not available. But as part of an ongoing programme, the Scottish Energy Efficiency Office (SEEO) is endeavouring to make Scottish businesses aware of how the Climate Change Levy will affect them and what they can do to mitigate its impact. Information on the CCL is being disseminated by way of seminars; other business events, press articles, the SEEO website, and the Enterprise Network. The SEEO is also working with the major energy suppliers in Scotland with a view to sending information on the CCL to their business customers.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it examines practices elsewhere in Europe in deciding on an appropriate flu vaccine programme for the elderly.
Answer
My answer to question S1W-3919 by Duncan Hamilton confirms that the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health which provides advice to the Executive on such matters, holds information on influenza vaccination policies for European countries.
Decisions concerning vaccination programmes are made on the basis of locally relevant scientific information and take into account the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for GPs with regard to the flu vaccine programme for the over 65s this year.
Answer
Following discussions with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee of the BMA, the Scotland wide target for immunising the over 65 age group has been set at 60% this year.
