Chamber and committees

The information requested is given in the table.

Deaths from malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri1, by health board of residence, 1995-2000
	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Scotland	147	138	144	145	122	117
Argyll and Clyde	14	11	16	18	12	7
Ayrshire and Arran	13	10	11	9	13	14
Borders	2	1	4	1	2	3
Dumfries and Galloway	4	5	4	6	1	1
Fife	14	8	13	10	6	15
Forth Valley	8	9	6	13	5	6
Grampian	12	15	12	15	11	9
Greater Glasgow	34	27	24	26	22	16
Highland	9	3	5	8	8	4
Lanarkshire	18	16	11	15	14	18
Lothian	9	17	28	16	20	16
Orkney	-	2	-	-	1	-
Shetland	1	-	1	-	-	-
Tayside	8	13	9	6	7	8
Western Isles	1	1	-	2	-	-

Note:1. 1995-1999, ICD9 code 180; 2000, ICD10 code C53

The Scottish Executive's headline target is to reduce the age standardised mortality rate from all cancers in people under age 75 by 20% between 1995 and 2010.Scottish Cancer Registry data shows that in 1995 the European age standardised mortality rate for cervical cancer in Scotland was 4.6 per 100,000. In 2000 this had fallen to 3.5.

Renal disease was a major focus of attention during the Acute Services Review. The views of the Renal Disease Sub-Group were incorporated in the Report of the Review, which was published in June 1998. The Sub-Group ceased to exist once it had reported to the Acute Services Group, which has been responsible for implementation of the main recommendations of the review.

Prevention of renal disease needs to concentrate on the main causes, diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure). In relation to diabetes, the Executive has developed a Scottish Diabetes Framework which covers prevention and early detection, as well as a section on kidney problems. Reduction of hypertension is dealt with in the CHD/Stroke Task Force report, currently out for consultation, and our national demonstration project, Have a Heart Paisley. Work on Scotland's diet, especially reducing the amount of salt in food, also plays a significant role. Initiatives to reduce high blood pressure will be beneficial in relation to renal disease as well as to CHD. The standards being developed by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland in conjunction with the Scottish Renal Association will ensure that the management of renal disease continues to be of the highest quality. These are currently the subject of consultation.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is an independent body, and decisions on proposals for the introduction of guidelines are a matter for the SIGN Council to consider. They are always willing to consider topics for new guidelines, but would need to consider how these could be fitted into the existing programme.

Our policy is clear. Firstly, there should be no commercial production of GM crops until the possible effects on the environment of growing them are thoroughly investigated. Secondly, the Scottish Executive is absolutely committed to the involvement of local communities in this issue and we are consulting how best that will be done.

It is the responsibility of each NHS organisation to be aware of all research, including clinical drug trials, being conducted within their organisation. This responsibility is clearly stated in the Research Governance Framework Document recently published by the Chief Scientist Office.At UK level, details of non-commercial drug trials, along with details of all other non-commercial research activity, are recorded on the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

The group is an informal forum designed to allow unfettered discussion of matters of shared interest to the Health Department, NHSScotland and pharmaceutical interests. It has not been established with any formal remit that would lead the Executive to publish the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group's discussions, its findings or recommendations. Additionally, it is anticipated that matters of commercial sensitivity will be discussed, making publication inappropriate.

No. The Scottish Executive has already carried out an extensive and comprehensive programme of serological testing of sheep in Scotland which established that the national flock is foot-and-mouth disease free.

The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in dermatology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, in the years ended 30 June 1999 and 30 June 2000, by NHS Board of residence, are provided in the table.NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For A First Out-patient Appointment With A Consultant In Dermatology, Following Referral By A General Medical Practitioner, By NHS Board Of Residence: Years Ending 30 June 1999 and 30 June 2000.

NHS Board	30 June 1999 Median Wait (Days)	30 June 2000 Median Wait (Days)
Argyll and Clyde	67	56
Ayrshire and Arran	43	62
Borders	61	55
Dumfries and Galloway	39	21
Fife	63	64
Forth Valley	102	102
Grampian	95	106
Greater Glasgow	51	61
Highland	60	64
Lanarkshire	41	53
Lothian	52	66
Orkney	37	54
Shetland	43	57
Tayside	82	37
Western Isles	110	83
Scotland	54	61

Source: ISD, Scotland.