Chamber and committees

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: S2W-05502

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 January 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to fund the work and operation of the Scottish Breastfeeding Group in each year since May 1999.

Question reference: S2W-02436

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what findings have been produced from the two endometriosis research projects funded through the Chief Scientist Office prior to June 2001.

The two projects referred toin question S1W-8966 on 11 December 2000, were not directly related to endometriosis but to otherdisorders of the endometrium. One of those research projects has now been completedand an executive summary of the findings can be found on the Chief Scientist Office’s(CSO) website, http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso,under Publications-Executive Summaries-October 2001-Health Services Research, projectreference number K-OPR-2-2-D360. This project deals with microwave endometrial ablation,a treatment under investigation in mild cases of endometriosis. A further CSO projecton this topic is now also about to commence.

The second research project looksat a genetic predisposition to endometrial cancer and is of relevance to the widerissue of mismatch repair genes in benign (endometriosis) and malignant endometrialtumours. The final report is due in the next two months. A copy of the executivesummary for this project will be placed on the CSO’s website in due course.

Question reference: S2W-02435

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made to the management of the delivery of infertility services since 2001 to ensure equity of access to such services and treatment throughout Scotland.

Question reference: S2W-02438

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what advances have been made in the improvement of services for individuals suffering from chronic enduring conditions.

Progress is being made acrossa wide front, and includes:

· progressive implementation of the Scottish Diabetes Framework, which was published in April 2002.

· the development of ManagedClinical Networks for epilepsy.

· with the UK Government and theother devolved administrations, the new General Medical Services contractframework which links GP remuneration to prescribed standards (includingdisease registers) for the management of, among other conditions, coronaryheart disease (CHD), diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), epilepsy and asthma.

· the introduction of PersonalMedical Services pilots, focussing on the management of chronic conditionsespecially CHD, asthma, COPD, the effects of stroke and mental health.

· single shared assessment throughjoint working, joint management, joint/shared budgets and sharing ofappropriate information in older people’s services. We hope to include othercare services soon.

· commissioning an independentreview of chronic pain services.

publication of the report of the Executive’s Short Life Working Group on CFS/ME, which makes recommendationsto NHS boards on the improvement of services.

Question reference: S2W-02437

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to promote comprehensive medical research into endometriosis.

Question reference: S2W-02434

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in promoting earlier and better diagnosis of endometriosis since the publication of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidelines in July 2000.

The Royal College ofObstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) guidelines on endometriosis have been broughtto the attention of health professionals through the Royal College'sclinical networks in gynaecology, general practice and other healthprofessions. Advice in the guidelines is also included in postgraduate trainingin gynaecology and for general practice. Ensuring good practice in diagnosis isa matter for clinical governance arrangements.

Question reference: S2W-02036

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 3 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have sought approval, or have indicated that they intend to seek approval, for the designation of pressured areas under section 45 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Question reference: S2W-00833

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 June 2003
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 2 July 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what Glasgow City Council's budget for occupational health aids and adaptations was in 2002-03 and is in 2003-04.

Question reference: S2W-00781

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2003
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 25 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the further education funding system in England, under the Learning and Skills Council, which awards funds to institutions in instalments throughout the academic year in accordance with the retention of students throughout this period.

Question reference: S2W-00782

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2003
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to subsidise the costs incurred by NHS nurses in respect of re-registration and continual professional development.

The Scottish Executive has no role in the regulation of nurses and midwives. Responsibility for the regulation of nurses and midwives rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Due to the nature of self-regulation for all health professionals, nurses and midwives are responsible for the cost of maintaining their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Partnership for Care sets out a commitment to develop an entitlement to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for all staff. NHS boards also need to work in partnership with staff to ensure that they are supported and encouraged to develop and maintain their skills. In 2002-03, as part of the Facing the Future initiative, the Scottish Executive allocated £1.75 million in 2002-03 to NHS trusts on the understanding that it was used in addition to existing CPD funding. The Facing the Future Group will be considering how those funds have been used.