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: S1W-08989

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any resources available to help upgrade existing ice rinks.

Question reference: S1W-08990

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to developing youth interest in curling; if so, what strategy it has to achieve this and whether there are any plans for curling development officers.

Question reference: S1W-07468

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to achieve 20% fewer deaths from cancer in the under 75s by 2010.

Improvements in survival from cancer are already evident. For example, five-year survival from breast cancer is now 75%, compared to 66% in the 1980s. Cervical cancer incidence and deaths have been reduced by 34% since 1986. In men with testicular cancer, more than 90% are alive after five years. These improvements reflect better treatment as well as earlier diagnosis for most cancers.

A great deal of work is under way to achieve the target set in Towards a Healthier Scotland. Health boards are working in partnership with other agencies to promote healthy lifestyles in relation to diet and nutrition, smoking cessation and physical exercise, all of which have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. A range of measures are in place to raise awareness and to encourage people to recognise symptoms and seek early advice.

More generally, the Executive have made clear our continuing commitment to the Scottish breast and cervical screening programmes, a pilot programme of colorectal cancer screening, the introduction of cancer Managed Clinical Networks underpinned by planned programmes of audit and quality assurance, SIGN Guidelines, the development and monitoring of clinical standards through the Clinical Standards Board and the establishment of additional one-stop clinics to reduce waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The work of the Scottish Cancer Group will continue to inform policy and investment decisions and provide a strategic framework for the development of cancer services across Scotland. With regard to prevention, the focus now being placed on public health, including the creation of a Public Health Institute for Scotland, will help to drive further improvements in lifestyle and life circumstances which will help to reduce the incidence of cancer in future.

Question reference: S1W-07539

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether doctors who are struck off the register by the General Medical Council can continue to practice in the private sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-07574

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether general medical services in the Scottish Prison Service will in future be provided by qualified general practitioners.

Question reference: S1W-07575

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether prisoners will receive an equivalent level of care and access to treatment as elsewhere in the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-07576

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how issues of consent and confidentiality in relation to medical treatment can be assured for prisoners in Scotland's jails.

Question reference: S1W-09151

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to deal with the consequences of prison related transmission of hepatitis C.

Question reference: S1W-09152

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what preventative measures are in place to alleviate the spread of hepatitis C in prisons.

Question reference: S1W-09153

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a study is taking place into the incidence of new cases of hepatitis C in short-term and remand prisons.

I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

A study to look at the incidence of hepatitis C within such groups would be likely to be of limited value given the long incubation period for hepatitis C infection. A hepatitis C incidence and prevalence study is, however, currently underway among long-term prisoners at HM Prison, Shotts.