I refer the member to the question S2W-17625 answered on 1 August 2005. 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.

I refer the member to the question S2W-17619 answered on 1 August 2005. 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.

I refer the member to the question S2W-17625 answered on 1 August 2005. 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.

I refer the member to the question S2W-17619 answered on 1 August 2005. 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.

The Scottish Executive has made no formal assessment or estimate of the availability of human gametes since the donor anonymity arrangements were introduced on 1 April 2005. Nor have we made an assessment of future availability.

Over the past six months officials have met representatives of all the Scottish clinics, Infertility Network UK and the National Infertility Awareness Campaign. Given the concerns raised by all groups we plan to survey the clinics on impact of the legislation this summer. At this time we will also consider the availability of facilities for donation.

Legislation on the licensing and governing of fertility centres is reserved to Westminster. Scottish Executive officials have discussed with the Department of Health the implementation of the new legislation to ensure suitable publicity for Scotland. In addition to the UK government’s publicity we have circulated promotional materials to a wide range of Scottish contacts, including clinics, GP’s surgeries and patient representative groups.

I refer the member to the question S2W-17619 answered on 1 August 2005. 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.

refer the member to the question S2W-17619 answered on 1 August 2005. 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.

The Expert Group on InfertilityServices in Scotland (EAGISS) set out recommendations for national criteria forNHS-funded infertility treatment. One of these recommendations was that the femalepartner should be aged less than 38 at the time of treatment. NHS boards were askedto implement EAGISS criteria bearing in mind local and national priorities. In arecent review conducted by the Executive, NHS Argyll and Clyde informedus that they provide treatment for NHS-funded infertility treatment up to the ageof 40, but that they would not accept referrals for patients over the age of 35.We are aware that NHS Argyll and Clyde is in the process of reviewing their policyand that they anticipate making changes to reflect current waiting times and nationalguidance.

The number of Scottish patientshaving a heart transplant operation in each of these years is set out in the table:

2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05
*14	12	11	9

Source: UK Transplant.

Note: *Six of these operations were performedin Newcastle.