Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2720 on 3 October 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Scottish Executive supports efforts to promote the donation of organs for transplantation,and I have had a number of representations on this subject. Issues relating to electoralregistration are however reserved. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with HerMajesty’s Government on a range of issues, including electoral registration matters.

I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-1225 on 17 July 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/swearch_wa.

On 3 September 2003, the Deputy ChiefMedical Officer wrote to NHSScotland health professionals reiterating policy andadvice on issues relating to thiomersal in vaccines.

Details of the specific vaccinebrands used in each NHS board area, by individual practitioners, are not availablecentrally.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.

The cost of providing for employer’sNational Insurance contributions per NHS board area is shown in the followingtable.

Employers National InsuranceContributions per NHS Board Area

Board Area	1998-99 (£000)	1999-2000 (£000)	2000-01 (£000)	2001-02 (£000)	2002-03 (£000)
Argyll and Clyde	10,642	10,868	12,312	13,496	13,938
Ayrshire and Arran	8,740	9,099	9,943	10,439	10,887
Borders	2,728	2,946	3,192	3,486	3,635
Dumfries and Galloway	4,029	4,245	4,553	4,710	4,747
Fife	7,217	8,025	8,843	9,094	9,387
Forth Valley	6,354	6,862	7,342	7,566	7,565
Grampian	13,011	13,360	15,342	15,870	16,441
Greater Glasgow	32,565	33,482	35,540	37,797	40,325
Highland	5,826	5,964	6,610	6,992	7,393
Lanarkshire	12,184	12,811	13,755	14,279	14,766
Lothian	22,031	23,333	25,663	27,236	28,274
Orkney	507	507	551	577	642
Shetland	583	598	640	662	694
Tayside	13,620	13,797	14,427	14,880	15,405
Western Isles	971	1,004	1,119	1,170	1,271
Total	141,008	146,901	159,832	168,254	175,370

Notes:

1. The figures represent thecost to each NHS board and their local NHS trusts of providing employers’ NationalInsurance contributions.

2. The figures are taken fromthe published annual accounts of NHS trusts and NHS boards for each respective financialyear.

3. The figures are disclosedas Social Security Costs with the annual accounts of each NHS trust and board. SocialSecurity Costs are deemed to be employers’ National Insurance contributions includingnet Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).

This information is not heldcentrally.

I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2143 today. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

A review paper published in Biologicalsin 1999, stated that “with the exception of five component vaccine, acellular vaccinesare less efficacious than a good whole cell vaccine”. A letter from the Chief MedicalOfficer in November 2001 referred to this review paper and its relevance to theExecutive’s preference for diphtheria, tetanus and wholecell pertussis (DTwP) vaccineover diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine, for primary immunisation.This letter can be accessed at http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/publications/CMO(2001)16.pdf.

Atits meeting on 1 November 2002, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation(JCVI) considered research evidence showing a gradual increase in the number ofcases of Hib disease since 1999. As a result of these deliberations, the committeerecommended that children between six months and four years of age should receiveanother dose of Hib vaccine. At this meeting, reasons for the possible increasein Hib infections were also discussed. An open minute of the meeting can be foundat http://www.doh.gov.uk/jcvi/mins01nov02.htm.

Following this recommendation,the Executive initiated a catch-up campaign to offer all children, aged betweensix months and four years at 1 April 2003 a booster dose of Hib vaccine.

An NHS Health Scotlandinformation leaflet is available to parents, who can also discuss any detailedquestions with local health professionals. A Hib factsheet has been issued toNHSScotland health professionals to inform and facilitate any such discussion.

These information materialsare also available on the NHS Health Scotland website at www.hebs.com

It has not been possible toinclude a bill on high hedges in the Executive’s legislative programme for thisparliamentary session.

However, Scott Barrie MSPhas submitted a bill proposal to provide local authorities with the power todeal with complaints regarding high hedges. We have had some initialdiscussions with Mr Barrie and the Executive supports in principle theintroduction of legislation on this matter.