Botox can be self-administered, administered by an appropriate practitioner (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist independent prescriber) or administered by anyone acting in accordance with the directions of an appropriate practitioner. The prescriber should be satisfied that the person who will administer the treatment is competent to do so.

The safety of medical devices such as dermal fillers is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Dermal fillers are made from a variety of materials. Any fillers placed on the market as medical devices must meet the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive. If the fillers are being placed on the market as devices they must be CE-marked, which indicates that the manufacturer has verified that the product will not compromise the clinical condition or the safety of patients when used under the conditions and for the purposes intended and that the risks are outweighed by the benefits expected from its use for the medical purpose intended by the manufacturer.

The MHRA continuously monitor the safety of medicines and devices on the UK market. Information about the work of the MHRA can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk.

Like all medicines, botox does have side-effects and these are listed in the Patient Information Leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics.

Botox is not licensed for cosmetic use. Any such use outside the licensed indication(s) is entirely the responsibility of the prescribing physician.

Ultimately, the decision whether or not to prescribe a medicine rests with the prescriber concerned, in discussion with the patient and bearing in mind the risks and benefits of its use.

The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Product information for botox, available to patients and prescribers, lists potential side-effects that may be associated with its use.

The safety of botox is continuously monitored by the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme. Health professionals and patients are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions to any therapeutic agents. Further information on the Yellow Card Scheme can be found at:

www.yellowcard.gov.uk.

The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Information about the medicinal use of botox, including potential side-effects, is contained in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). In order to minimise the risk of serious reactions due to the spread or effect of toxin, it is essential that the posology, warnings and precautions are strictly followed as stipulated in the SPC.

Most dermal fillers used in the United Kingdom are regulated as medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, as amended. CE-marking of a product under the Medical Devices Directive denotes that the risks are outweighed by the benefits expected from its use for the medical purpose intended by the manufacturer.

The MHRA continuously monitor the safety of medicines and devices on the UK market. Information about the work of the MHRA can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

The figures requested are in the following table:

Number¹ of Successful Prosecutions for NHS Fraud by NHS Board/Special Health Board: 1 July 2000²-31 January 2008³

NHS Board/Special Health Board	Number	Year or Years of Successful Prosecution
Ayrshire and Arran	3	2002-03, 2007-08, 2007-08
Dumfries and Galloway	1	2004-05
Forth Valley	1	2007-08
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	4	2003-04, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2007-08
Lothian	4	2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
NHS 24	1	2007-08
Orkney	1	2006-07
Tayside	1	2004-05
Western Isles	1	2006-07
Total	17

Note:

1. These figures do not include patients who have claimed entitlement falsely/erroneously to free NHS dental or pharmacy services or NHS optical vouchers. When identified, these patients must pay back the charge evaded/the voucher cost or a civil penalty charge may be imposed. Patients who have committed other types of fraud are included.

2. Prior to July 2000, cases of potential fraud were investigated by the police.

3. From July 2000 to September 2004, NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services tackled fraud in family health services only.

The main functions of NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services are the prevention and deterrence of NHS fraud since it is less costly and more effective to discourage potential fraudsters where possible than to investigate after fraud has taken place.

The figures requested are in the following table.

Recoveries/Savings¹ from NHS Fraud: 1 July 2000² to 31 January 2008³

Type	£
Recoveries from Investigations	765,994
Recoveries by Patient Claims Team	746,333
Savings from Pro-active Exercises4	13,948,721
Patient Fraud/Error Risk Measurement Exercise4	4,635,963
Annualised savings from Investigations	2,068,340
Total	22,165,351

Notes:

1. Gross figures.

2. Prior to July 2000, cases of potential fraud were investigated by the police.

3. From July 2000 to September 2004, NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services tackled fraud in family health services only.

4. Estimates from Scotland-wide exercises up to 2006-07. Estimates for 2007-08 not yet complete.

The most cost effective method of generating fraud savings to the NHS from both a financial and business perspective is to deter and prevent fraud before fraud occurs.

I refer the member to answer to questions S3W-5272 and S3W-5343 on  26 October 2007, the most meaningful information on local authority debt relates to the level of outstanding loans fund debt for each local authority as this debt must, in accordance with legislation, be charged to services over a number of years. All monies borrowed by the local authority are paid into the loans fund which then makes advances to service accounts to fund capital expenditure. The Scottish Government does not collect forecasts of this debt, only outturn information at the end of each financial year.

However, local authorities are also under a statutory duty to keep under review the maximum amount which they can afford to allocate to capital expenditure. In doing so, they must have regard to the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities. Under this code, authorities must forecast their capital finance requirements and gross external borrowing over a three year rolling period and keep these within set operational and authorised limits. Therefore, for monitoring purposes, we do collect forecasts of gross external borrowing. External borrowing includes temporary short-term borrowing and any borrowing undertaken on behalf of other authorities such as police and fire boards. This is permitted by Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975.

The table overleaf shows the levels of forecast gross outstanding external borrowing by local authorities as provided in their latest quarterly capital returns to the Scottish Government.

Gross External Borrowing by Local Authority (£000)

Local Authority	Forecast Gross External Borrowing at 31 March 2007	Forecast Change in External Borrowing in 2008‘09*	Forecast Gross External Borrowing at 31 March 2008
Aberdeen City	472,598	55,529	528,127
Aberdeenshire	397,952	2,099	400,051
Angus	155,369	0	155,369
Argyll and Bute	209,066	-70	208,996
Clackmannanshire	104,204	10,000	114,204
Dumfries and Galloway	175,194	11,509	186,703
Dundee City	322,812	7,274	330,086
East Ayrshire	223,613	9,350	232,963
East Dunbartonshire	114,685	-458	114,227
East Lothian	236,000	0	236,000
East Renfrewshire	90,604	2,819	93,423
Edinburgh, City of	943,698	-38,803	904,895
Eilean Siar	157,129	887	158,016
Falkirk	220,515	4,969	225,484
Fife	590,088	9,294	599,382
Glasgow City	1,193,931	37,704	1,231,635
Highland	603,663	17,459	621,122
Inverclyde	182,369	9,929	192,298
Midlothian	125,683	50,648	176,331
Moray	155,414	34,705	190,119
North Ayrshire	225,652	0	225,652
North Lanarkshire	447,327	23,137	470,464
Orkney Islands	0	0	0
Perth and Kinross	177,433	24,499	201,932
Renfrewshire	302,560	0	302,560
Scottish Borders	184,664	9,362	194,026
Shetland Islands	0	0	0
South Ayrshire	190,907	8,650	199,557
South Lanarkshire	550,595	37,802	588,397
Stirling	146,496	-275	146,221
West Dunbartonshire	209,879	2,291	212,170
West Lothian	298,733	13,425	312,158
Total	9,408,833	343,735	9,752,568

Note: *The change in borrowing incorporates new loans taken less any redemptions of debt.

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/webapp/wa.search.

Following a continued decline in tuberculosis (TB) rates in the UK the universal childhood vaccination programme was discontinued in 2005. This change was recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert advisory committee that provides advice on issues of immunisation and vaccination to all UK health ministers. TB is not a highly transmissible disease and nearly all children who get TB are infected by family members after prolonged close contact. Stopping the schools programme and concentrating on reaching those children who are most at risk at an age when the vaccine is most effective will reduce the risks posed by TB in those areas where rates are highest.

The advice from the JCVI was based on the latest scientific and epidemiological data and the changes to the programme brought us into line with international World Health Organization guidelines.