The term "Healthcare Associated Infection" is generally used to refer to infections which may affect patients, staff and others in the full range of health care settings, not only in hospitals. Infections which may be associated with health care settings include urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, pneumonia, bloodstream and other infections. For the particular purpose of the surveillance of infections acquired in health care settings, NHSScotland will use the definition set out in the report of the Advisory Group on Infection's sub group on Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance. A copy of this report can be found at http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd.

NHS Boards and Trusts, in collaboration with their local authority planning partners and others, are responsible for decisions about the use of the additional resources provided to NHSScotland to help respond to winter pressures. The resources can be used to purchase places in nursing and residential homes where appropriate. It is an important policy objective that all patients should be cared for in the surroundings most appropriate to their needs.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Yes, farmed venison is subjected to quality assurance inspections and soon wild venison from land run by Forest Enterprise will also be inspected. However, other wild venison is not at present covered by a quality assurance scheme, although the Scottish Game Dealers and Processors Association are at present working on introducing a scheme which will include inspection by an accredited certification body.

I am advised that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is unaware of any evidence suggesting a direct link between the symptoms of food allergy and any genetically modified (GM) food or ingredient.All GM foods are subject to a rigorous safety assessment before they can be marketed in the EU. The FSA is the UK competent authority for approving GM foods, and is advised on this subject by an independent body called the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). ACNFP considers potential allergenicity in its assessment of all GM and other novel foods.

We are aware of the announcement made by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on 3 October that it will be undertaking a number of inquiries to explore how well markets are working for their customers.The OFT stated that the pharmacy study will examine the market for retail pharmacy services and, in particular, whether consumers are best served by the system that regulates where pharmacies can open.

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is no evidence to suggest that antibiotic resistance has occurred as a result of the consumption of genetically modified foods.

White noise generators and other tinnitus masking devices are available to patients from NHSScotland.

The genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops currently grown in Scotland are tolerant to only one specific herbicide. Cross-pollination with a related, sexually compatible species could produce a hybrid with the same tolerance. Separation distances around GM trials are designed to minimise this possibility although the expert advisory body, ACRE, is satisfied that such hybridisation does not pose a safety threat to the environment. Control of these plants is possible through the use of any method other than the application of the herbicide to which they are tolerant.

Meat produced within the European Union must be produced to the standards required by the relevant EU laws. These are enforced by the individual member state, and require that carcasses are properly inspected at the slaughterhouse whether in the UK or another member state.In light of failures to properly remove specified risk material in consignments of beef imported from several EU member states, and following instruction from the Food Standards Agency, checks on carcass beef imports have been increased to 100%. Local authorities have also been advised to step up checks on bone-in-beef and sheep meat and the health marking of all meat in the premises they supervise.Meat imported from non-EU states is controlled by EU rules, which require that the meat must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those required by the EU meat hygiene Directives. Again, carcasses must be inspected at the slaughterhouse of production.