Chamber and committees

The Broadband Reach Project is using satellite and wireless technology to deliver an affordable, basic broadband to those eligible households and businesses which have made us aware of their broadband need. The project is due to conclude in May 2009. Over 4,000 eligible premises are currently registered on the Scottish Government''s database and all of these will be provided with a service if they wish to take it.

As of 22 March 2009, 60 installations have been completed in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency, with another 14 orders in progress.

SMR01 data returns relating to the private sector are known to be significantly incomplete. In July 2008 NHS boards were asked to ensure submission of complete and accurate data. The Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland (ISD) data return relating to the private health care includes independent hospitals, hospices and care homes run by local authorities and charities. The following table shows available information for in-patient / day case activity that has been submitted for NHS patients treated by independent healthcare providers in Scotland.

NHSScotland In-Patient and Day Case Episodes “ Numbers of Records that have been Submitted for Independent Locations in Scotland; Financial Years since 2003-04¹

	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Independent hospitals
Abbey Carrick Glen Hospital	205	298	577	422	109
Abbey King''s Park Hospital	-	-	12	95	289
Albyn Hospital	132	342	471	667	313
Fernbrae Hospital	91	213	75	16	-
Glasgow Nuffield Hospital	40	25	30	146	72
Murrayfield Hospital	35	172	145	137	154
Ross Hall Hospital	369	101	73	89	5
Woodlands Hospital (Darlington)	-	7	27	47	18
Independent hospitals (excl. SRTC)	872	1,158	1,410	1,619	960
SRTC at Stracathro Hospital	-	-	-	44	1,372
Hospices, private nursing homes and other independent providers (including homes run by local authorities or charities)2	1484	1102	11,70	1,735	2,246

Source: ISD Scotland [Form SMR01] Date: 23 March 2009.

Note: 1. It is emphasised that the figures shown are based on incomplete returns. The figures will be of limited use and should be treated with caution.

Provisional data on the number of NHS patients treated in the private sector in 2008-09 will be available in June 2009.

Forestry Commission Scotland has not conducted research on the likely effects on employment of the displacement of the wood processing industries by the biomass energy industry. To date, despite a threefold increase in the use of woodfuel since 2005 in Scotland, there have been no directly attributable negative impacts on employment in the wood processing industries. The wood fuel taskforce identified significant additional sources of woody biomass, which if brought to market will allow the biomass energy industry to develop alongside the existing wood processing sector.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17402 on 12 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

In addition, we are now in the process of re-issuing the Lifeblood leaflet on thrombosis electronically to all GP practices, asking GPs to make it available to those whom they consider to be at risk.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended a package of proposed investments for the period 2012 and beyond, the delivery of which will be prioritised in each spending review.

A timetable for undertaking the work on the A77 upgrades will therefore be developed as part of this prioritisation process.

We have a fully committed programme of transport infrastructure investment to 2012:

planned improvements to the A77 include the introduction of grade separated junctions at Symington and Bogend Toll and realignment and improvement of 3.3km of the carriageway between Dowhill and Chapeldonan.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-19420 on 26 January 2009 and S3W-20652 on 24 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government has no plans to develop a rail station at Ayr Hospital.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has commissioned a Resource and Cost Impact Report on NICE Technology Assessment 151. This will give a detailed estimate of both staffing and pump cost to help NHS boards plan its implementation.

Once published, the NHS QIS report and the revised SIGN Guideline on the management of diabetes should clearly establish for NHS boards the benefits and costs of investing in insulin pumps, compared to other insulin therapies, to help them develop their insulin pump provision appropriately.

The National Health Service Central Register for Scotland is currently in discussion with colleagues from Connecting for Health regarding the future transfer of patient information from NHS Scotland to the Personal Demographics Service, NHS England.