Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-08508

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support mechanisms are available to port authorities to assist them in meeting environmental standards in respect of ballast water exchange near Natura sites.

Question reference: S4W-08126

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 29 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the appointment round for new chairs of regional boards for colleges will commence.

We plan to bring forward legislation to make provision for the establishment of statutory regional boards in those college regions where there is more than one college (except in the Highlands and Islands, for which separate provision will be made). Subject to that legislation completing its parliamentary stages, we shall begin the appointment round for chairs of those regional boards as soon as possible.

Question reference: S4W-08127

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 29 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new chairs of regional boards of colleges will be in place.

We plan to bring forward legislation to make provision for the establishment of statutory regional boards in those college regions where there is more than one college (except in the Highlands and Islands, for which separate provision will be made). Subject to that legislation completing its Parliamentary stages, we shall begin the appointment round for chairs of those regional boards as soon as possible.

Question reference: S4W-08125

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 29 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the code of practice for ministerial appointments to public bodies will be used in the appointment of chairs of regional boards of colleges.

Question reference: S4W-07171

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how the individual patient treatment request process operates in each NHS board.

Question reference: S4W-07170

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase awareness of the individual patient treatment request process among (a) healthcare professionals and (b) the general public in each NHS board area.

The Scottish Government issued CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010, which set out a framework within which boards were expected to develop and align local policies regarding access to new medicines. This was followed up by the issue of good practice guidance on the management of Individual Patient Treatment Requests which was issued on 18 March 2011 by the Chief Medical Officer under cover of SGHD/CMO(2011)3. Also, guidance to further strengthen the safe and effective use of new medicines across the NHS in Scotland was issued on 13 February 2012 under SGHD/CMO(2012)1.

The guidance was circulated widely to healthcare professional groups and the good practice guidance contains a section on providing information to the public. It asks boards to ensure their policies are available to the public in accordance with relevant legislation including equalities legislation.

Question reference: S4W-07169

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available in each NHS board to inform (a) healthcare professionals and (b) the general public how to apply for medicines via individual patient treatment requests.

The issue of CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010 set out a framework within which boards were expected to develop and align local policies regarding access to new medicines. This was followed up by the issue of good practice guidance on the management of Individual Patient Treatment Requests which was issued on 18 March 2011 by the Chief Medical Officer under cover of SGHD/CMO(2011)3. Also, guidance to further strengthen the safe and effective use of new medicines across the NHS in Scotland was issued on 13 February 2012 under SGHD/CMO(2012)1.

The guidance was circulated widely to healthcare professional groups and the good practice guidance contains a section on providing information to the public. It asks boards to ensure their policies are available to the public in accordance with relevant legislation including equalities legislation.

Decisions regarding the provision of NHS services remain matters for NHS boards. Also, clinicians remain responsible for clinical decisions regarding the care of individual patients.

Question reference: S4W-07172

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out an evaluation of the implementation of the guidance, Introduction and Availability of Newly Licensed Medicines in the NHS in Scotland (CEL17), from the perspective of (a) NHS boards, (b) healthcare professionals and (c) patients and, if so, what the outcome was.

Since the issue of CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010, the Scottish Government has continued to work with NHS boards to ensure effective and proper processes are in place. This work resulted in the issue of good practice guidance on the management of Individual Patient Treatment Requests which was issued on 18 March 2011 by the Chief Medical Officer under cover of SGHD/CMO(2011)3. In December 2011, The Chief Medical Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer convened a clinical group to review extant processes, including Individual Patient Treatment Requests, and this resulted in the issue of guidance to further strengthen the safe and effective use of new medicines across the NHS in Scotland on 13 February 2012 under SGHD/CMO(2012)1.

All guidance was circulated widely to healthcare professional groups and the good practice guidance contains a section on providing information to the public. It asks boards to ensure their policies are available to the public in accordance with relevant legislation including equalities legislation.

Decisions regarding the provision of NHS services remain matters for NHS boards. Also, clinicians remain responsible for clinical decisions regarding the care of individual patients.

Question reference: S4F-00675

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 May 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2012

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to provide support to families fostering disabled children.

Question reference: S4W-07015

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 11 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the report in the 1 May 2012 edition of The Press and Journal, which quoted a spokesperson from Transport Scotland saying that "following complaints, the commission had confirmed that the ADS [air discount scheme] was for the benefit of individuals and had 'no difficulty with the exclusion of business-related travel'”, whether it will provide information on (a) who made the complaints, (b) when the complaints were made and (c) the wording of the complaints.

Transport Scotland’s response to the Press and Journal on 30 April 2012 did not use the word "complaints" but did confirm that our approach to the European Commission followed meetings with local Councils and MSPs representing island communities. In the latter case, this includes my meeting with the member on 30 June 2011 which Tavish Scott and the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment also attended.

Chamber and committees