Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40156 on 16 March 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS boards currently meet the costs associated with the Scottish cervical screening programme, therefore this information is not held centrally.

However, as part of a cervical cytology laboratory review a detailed exercise took place to identify and allocate costs to cervical laboratory services. The total estimated costs across the cervical cytology laboratories only, as of May 2010, was calculated at £5,849,159.

The sensitivity and specificity of the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme is set out within the NHS Cancer Screening Programme Publication: Achievable standards, Benchmarks for reporting, and Criteria for evaluating cervical cytopathology which can be downloaded using the following link http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/publications/cc-02.html.

In January 2011 the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group recommended that a sub group be established to consider HPV testing within the cervical screening programme in Scotland. The sub-group will use its expertise to consider the available evidence and will provide advice to the Scottish Government. The remit, membership and timeline for the sub-group to report will be agreed shortly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40156 on 16 March 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The information requested is not centrally available. Information detailing the costs of these biopsies for treatment of cervical cancer may be available at NHS board level.

This information is not collected centrally. Information detailing the number of colposcopy''s undertaken and the associated costs may be available at NHS board level.

I have made an announcement on 4 March 2011 to extend the current support provisions in line with the recently published Contaminated Blood Review report, to:

Introduce an annual payment of £12,800 for those living with hepatitis C who qualify for Stage 2 payments from the Skipton Fund;

Allow posthumous clams for support to be made on behalf of people who died before 29 August 2003;

Increase the one-off payment made to those who qualify for Stage 2 payments from £25,000 to £50,000 (whether the patient is alive or dead);

Give access to discretionary fund for patients and/or their dependants suffering financial hardship;

Relevant patients who develop hepatitis C-related B cell lymphoma to be eligible to claim for Stage 2 payment; and

Increase the annual payment for those with hepatitis C/HIV in line with the consumer price index.

I understand that patient representatives believe that payments to those in Stage 1 of the illness should also be increased. I am also therefore announcing that this issue, and the implementation of the measures confirmed today, will be reviewed when we consider the final report (and any recommendations) of the Penrose Inquiry.

The cost of these new provisions is estimated to be around £18 million over the next
five years. Funding for the first year has been earmarked from the health budget for 2011-12 and, thereafter, funding will be provided through future health budgets.

After consultation with Lord Penrose, I have decided to amend the terms of reference on the basis of new evidence that has come to light in the form of medical reports which do not support a link between Mr Neil Mullen''s death and any treatment received by the NHS.

The revised term of reference 6 will be amended to read:

To investigate the deaths of Reverend David Black, Mrs Eileen O''Hara, Alexander Black Laing and Victor Tamburrini, with particular reference to the circumstances in which they became infected with the hepatitis C virus, HIV or both.

The Scottish Government (SG) has been very proactive in overcoming delays to wind farm developments due to radar issues. The SG formed the South West Scotland Aviation Solution Group in March 2009 which has met seven times and brings together all the relevant stakeholders. Developments in this forum led to the publication of the SG''s Feasibility Report which described the potential for finding solutions to radar issues and is the foundation upon which much of the progress made to date has been built. SG is also member of the Aviation Management Board which brings stakeholders together at UK level, including to support the development of new technological solutions.

The work is ongoing and covers a multitude of developments requiring different solutions, including some at pre-planning stage, so it is not possible to apply any timescales for completion.

Further information on the issue and the feasibility report can be obtained on the SG website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Infrastructure/Energy-Consents/Guidance.