Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S2W-21035

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 December 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20483 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 November 2005, what the anticipated publication date is of the report of the work undertaken by the Ministerial Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force.

The Ministerial Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force is nearing completion of a three-year programme of work to improve prevention and control of HAI.

A final report on the work completed by the HAI Task Force will be published in early 2006.

In January 2006 we will embark upon a new programme of work which will continue through to 2008. Its main focus will be on the implementation of and monitoring of compliance with the outputs of the HAI Task Force and related Scottish Executive requirements to ensure these measures are firmly embedded into day to day practice in healthcare settings across Scotland. This work will be led by a restructured HAI Task Force.

Question reference: S2W-21033

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 December 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20483 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 November 2005, which NHS boards have demonstrated, by way of mandatory surveillance, a diminution of MRSA infection rates within their hospitals and clinics in the last two years.

A national mandatory healthcare associated infection surveillance system was introduced in 2001 to monitor MRSA bacteraemias (blood infections). The surveillance is operated by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and it produces quarterly reports about the incidence (per thousand bed days) of blood borne MRSA. In the current HPS laboratory reporting system, rates are based on data from reporting laboratories and not for individual hospitals or clinics: one laboratory may therefore report aggregated information for several hospitals.

From January 2005 a new system for reporting was introduced in Scotland and this has resulted in more accurate and complete reporting of MRSA bacteraemias.

Data on the above is available at http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/hai/MRSA_Scot.htm.

Question reference: S2W-21032

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 December 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20483 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 November 2005, what recent discussions have taken place with NHS boards regarding the installation of more wash basins in hospital wards and other hygiene facilities in relation to infection prevention measures.

Scottish Health Facilities Note 30 – Infection Control in the Built Environment has recently been revised by the Property and Environment Forum as part of the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force work programme. This document provides guidance on the provision of facilities, including wash hand basins. This note was issued to NHS boards in September 2005, and it is for boards to decide how these guidelines will be implemented locally.

We allocated over £1 million of funding to boards in 2005 to ensure the provision of alcohol hand gel near every frontline bed in Scottish Hospitals. Boards have confirmed that this programme has been implemented.

Question reference: S2W-21034

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 December 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20483 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 November 2005, whether it will provide a list of the members of the Ministerial Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force and their officially appointed specialist advisers, showing (a) name, (b) occupation and (c) places of employment.

The membership of the Ministerial Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force is detailed in the following table. The HAI Task Force has no officially appointed specialist advisors.

Name	Occupation	Place of Employment
Dr David Steel	Chief Executive	NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
Mr Tim Brett	Director	Health Protection Scotland
Susan Brimelow	Director of Healthcare Regulation	Care Commission
Mr John Gallacher	Joint Secretary	Scottish Partnership Forum
Mrs Liz Gillies	Director of HAI Initiative	NHS Education for Scotland
Mr John Glennie	Chief Executive	Borders NHS Board
Dr Mary Hanson	Microbiologist	Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust
Mr Robert Howe	Head of Environmental Services	South Lanarkshire Council
Mr Paul Kingsmore	Chief Executive	The Property and Environment Forum Executive
Mr Adrian Lucas	Chief Executive	Scottish Ambulance Service
Mrs Audrey Mackenzie	Deputy to Susan Brimelow/Professional Adviser	Care Commission
Mrs Maggie McCowan	Senior Manager Infection Control	Infection Control Nurses’ Association (Scotland)
Mr Robert Masterton	Medical Director	Ayrshire and Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Ken Oates	Consultant in Public Health Medicine	Highland NHS Board
Mr Robert Peat	General Manager	Eastern Glasgow LHCC
Mr Tom Reilly	Public Involvement Representative	Member of the public
Mrs Marjory Russell	Public Involvement Representative	Member of the public
Dr Charles Saunders	Consultant in Public Health Medicine	Fife NHS Board
Mr Paul Wilson	Director of Nursing	Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals
Mr Alistair Brown	Head of Performance Management Division	Scottish Executive Health Department
Dr Harry Burns	Chief Medical Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department
Dr Peter Christie	Senior Medical Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department
Dr Michael Cornbleet	Senior Medical Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department
Professor Peter Donnelly	Deputy Chief Medical Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mr Alex Killick	Assistant Director: Partnership and Employment	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mr Paul Martin	Chief Nursing Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mrs Linda Middleton	HAI Task Force Project Supervisor	Scottish Executive Health Department
Dr Mini Mishra	Senior Medical Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mrs Diane Murray	Partnership and Employment Practice	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mr Ross Scott	Policy Implementation and Development Branch	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mrs Margaret Tannahill	HAI Task Force Leader	Scottish Executive Health Department
Mr Ray Watkins	Chief Dental Officer	Scottish Executive Health Department

Question reference: S2W-20483

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 17 November 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with NHS boards concerning the efficacy of the measures taken in hospitals in the last year to eradicate MRSA.

The Ministerial Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force is nearing completion of a three-year programme of work to improve prevention and control of HAI (of which MRSA is an important element). It is a multi-disciplinary group including several representatives from key areas in health (e.g. NHS boards, clinical staff, infection control experts, cleaning staff) and lay members. NHS boards have confirmed that alcohol handrub was made available at every frontline bed by April 2005. I launched a tool to monitor compliance with cleaning standards on 14 November. Guidelines for prudent prescribing of antibiotics were launched in September 2005, and arrangements for monitoring the effectiveness of this guidance will be overseen by the Antimicrobial resistance strategy working group.

The HAI Task Force is embarking on a new programme of work focusing on implementation and delivery which will involve extensive and continuing discussions with NHS boards.

Earlier this year, NHS boards’ performance on tackling HAIs was discussed at the Annual Accountability Reviews, which I chaired. Each board provided an update on HAI issues, including discussions on their compliance with infection control standards, their infection control programme for 2005, infection control training and the monitoring of health care cleanliness.

The overall measure of effectiveness in MRSA control is the quarterly report on mandatory surveillance of MRSA blood infections. These rates show that MRSA rates have now stabilised. We will continue to work with NHS boards to drive these rates down.

Question reference: S2W-19328

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 28 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with UK Government ministers and EU officials regarding allegations of hidden subsidies being given to a Polish shipyard.

There have been significant discussions between the Executive, the UK Government and the EU on these issues. In September 2005, the Commission wrote to Ferguson's indicating that they have found no evidence of illegal state aid and that there is not sufficient grounds for further investigation.

Further information which may also be of interest to you regarding this can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/FOI/19260/20126.

This is a response to a recent Freedom of Information request made to the Scottish Executive by the Greenock Telegraph.

Question reference: S2W-19325

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 26 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile is of the Caledonian MacBrayne passenger ferry fleet and how many replacement vessels are likely to be ordered between now and 2009.

Information on the ages of each of the vessels presently owned by Caledonian MacBrayne is as follows:

Name of Vessel	Year Built	Age of Vessel
MV Bruernish	1973	32
MV Canna	1973	32
MV Juno	1974	31
MV Jupiter	1974	31
MV Eigg	1975	30
MV Raasay	1976	29
MV Isle of Cumbrae	1977	28
MV Saturn	1978	27
MV Isle of Arran	1984	21
MV Hebridean Isles	1985	20
MV Loch Linnhe	1986	19
MV Loch Riddon	1986	19
MV Loch Striven	1986	19
MV Loch Ranza	1987	18
MV Isle of Mull	1988	17
MV Lord of the Isles	1989	16
MV Loch Dunvegan	1991	14
MV Loch Fyne	1991	14
MV Loch Buie	1992	13
MV Loch Tarbert	1992	13
MV Caledonian Isles	1993	12
MV Isle of Lewis	1995	10
MV Loch Bhruisda	1996	9
MV Loch Alainn	1997	8
MV Clansman	1998	7
MV Hebrides	2000	5
MV Loch Nevis	2000	5
MV Coruisk	2003	2
MV Loch Portain	2003	2
MV Bute	2005	0

Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd has started the tendering process for a new Largs-Cumbrae vessel and will make a contract award in due course. We expect to approve further improvements to the company’s fleet over the period to 2009 but final decisions have yet to be taken on individual orders.

Question reference: S2W-19334

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 7 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken over the last year to increase the recruitment, selection and employment of female police surgeons.

Question reference: S2W-19333

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 6 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with chief constables concerning the recruitment, selection and employment of female police surgeons.

Question reference: S2W-19329

Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any indication has been received from the European Union concerning an investigation into whether unfair state subsidies are being given to Polish shipyards; when any such investigation will be completed, and whether a report of any such investigation will be sent to the Executive.

We are aware of two European Commission investigations of alleged illegal state aids to Polish shipyards. The one into the three publicly owned yards is continuing. The Commission has not indicated a completion date.

The Commission has, however, confirmed to UK authorities that with regard to the complaint received from Ferguson’s about illegal aid to the privately owned Polish shipyard, Remontowa, it has found no evidence of illegal state aids to warrant a full investigation into Remontowa.

The Commission has sole competence in state aid and is not required to issue a report on its findings.