Chamber and committees

NHS Grampian has no current plans to build a replacement for Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. However, a longer term aim to relocate the hospital, on the same site, was included within a proposal put forward in 2011 for the development of a Grampian-wide single maternity service, operating from a number of locations. NHS Grampian discussed this proposal with the Scottish Government, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy approved NHS Grampian to move forward with implementing it in August 2012.

We are working closely with NHS Grampian to ensure progress against the implementation of its action plan to ensure it delivers real improvements on the standard of care provided across NHS Grampian. We asked Health Protection Scotland (HPS) to visit Aberdeen Maternity Hospital as a matter of priority to assess the situation and co-ordinate any support that the board might need from other national organisations. HPS visited the board on 31 October and 1 November and its assessment will help to understand how NHS Grampian’s systems resulted in the Inspectorate’s findings, and identify any potential systems changes that could reduce the risk of this situation happening again.

The board has stated publicly that all of the issues raised in the report have been tackled as a matter of urgency and most of the actions in its improvement action plan have already been completed, with the remainder at an advanced stage of implementation.

This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. I will ask the chairman to write with the information you have requested.

Data on deaths per 1,000 population attributable to (a) alcohol and (b) other substance misuse are provided in the following tables.

Deaths per 1,000 Population, by Underlying Cause

National statistics on both alcohol and drug related deaths, broken down by NHS board, are published annually by National Records Scotland (NRS).

It should be noted that the number of alcohol-related deaths shown only includes deaths from causes which are wholly attributable to alcohol. Deaths from, for example, road accidents, falls, fires, suicide or violence involving people who had been drinking, or deaths from some medical conditions which are considered partly attributable to alcohol, such as certain forms of cancer, are not included.

Although there is no standard definition of “other substance misuse” deaths, the figures shown under drug-related deaths should include the majority of the deaths that might be considered attributable to other substance misuse.

For further information about the definitions used above, please see the NRS website: http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/.

Future provision has been made within revenue forecasts to fund the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty project.

The Scottish Government has consented to both Councils borrowing the funds which they have agreed to provide towards the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty project. Under this arrangement, repayment of the loan can be spread over 30 years and Aberdeenshire Council has been given consent to defer repayment until the completion of the road in Spring 2018.

In February 2013, the Scottish Government consented to both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils borrowing up to £70 million to directly fund their contribution to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Subsequently, Scottish Ministers have agreed a contribution cap of £75 million for each Council, bringing clarity and certainty to spending plans ensuring that the project is delivered by Spring 2018.

All building owners have a general responsibility to maintain their property. Set against the total number of listed buildings, a very small number are at risk.

There is no specific obligation on the owner of a listed building to maintain their buildings, but there are statutory powers available to planning authorities and Scottish Ministers to take action where listed buildings have deteriorated. These powers allow them to carry out urgent works for the preservation of listed buildings, to serve “repairs notices” and to compulsorily acquire listed buildings in need of repair. The much better alternative is, of course, effective management and maintenance.

The STAG Report prepared by Aberdeen City Council estimated that Option 5 would cost in the region of £14.5 million (May 2007 prices, and excluding VAT).

An early part of the preparatory work is to ensure that Option 5 continues to work effectively with the current development proposals. This assessment work to confirm the preferred route option is ongoing and due to be finalised in spring 2014. The cost estimate will be updated and reviewed as part of this process.

Subject to confirming the preferred route option in spring 2014, the provisional programme estimates publication of draft road orders in summer 2015.