- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 9 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8272 by Susan Deacon on 10 July 2000, how the effectiveness of the #2.5 million will be appraised and monitored, over what period(s) and whether any such appraisal will be placed in the public domain.
Answer
I refer Ms Grahame to the answer I gave to her question S1W-8762.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 9 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8272 by Susan Deacon on 10 July 2000, how national strategic developments to control alcohol misuse are identified, how the allocation of the #2.5 million to specified national developments will be made, whether any of the allocation has yet been determined and, if it has, to which national strategy developments the additional resources will be allocated over the next three years.
Answer
The Scottish Advisory Committee on Alcohol Misuse (SACAM) was specifically set up to advice the Scottish Executive on the development and implementation of a coherent national strategy, and the most appropriate targeting of available resources.
SACAM identified, within its first Action Plan, the range of developments necessary to lay firm foundations for effective implementation of a robust and sustainable strategy. The work currently in progress will help us to determine the most appropriate targeting of available resources in the longer term. At this stage, available funding is being used to support initial implementation of the Action Plan. Specific work in this respect includes the undertaking of a scoping review of alcohol misuse information; research into costs associated with alcohol misuse and cost-effectiveness of measures to reduce alcohol misuse which will shortly be commissioned; the preparation of an inventory of alcohol services; increased funding to Alcohol Misuse Co-ordinating Committees in recognition of their vital role in alcohol misuse at both local and national level, and to inform prevention and health promotion aspects of a national strategy, SACAM is planning to hold an event later this year to examine evidence and perspectives of alcohol misuse.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8354 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, what criteria were applied to arrive at the 60% target for immunisation of the over 65 age group from the flu virus this year.
Answer
60% was agreed with representatives of the BMA in Scotland as a Scotland-wide target which is regarded as both achievable and beneficial.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive during what period in this year the flu vaccine will be available to the over 65 age group.
Answer
It is expected that, as is normal procedure, influenza immunisation will be concentrated in the period between 1 September 2000 to 31 January 2001.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8354 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, how the target of 60% for immunisation of the over 65 age group this year against influen'a compares with targets in comparable nations such as Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Ireland and Swit'erland.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8351 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, when it last received advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation with regard to the flu vaccination program for the over 65 age group this winter, and whether that body endorsed the 60% target.
Answer
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that the influenza vaccination programme be extended to those aged 65 years and over in March this year. The JCVI was not invited to suggest or endorse an uptake target for the programme.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths among the over 65s in winter 1999-2000 can be attributed to the influen'a outbreak.
Answer
It is not possible to give a precise answer. Even during a major influenza outbreak, it is relatively rare for the underlying cause of death to be classified as influenza because doctors do not often mention influenza on the certificate of cause of death. Provisional returns for the three months December 1999 to February 2000 show that influenza was mentioned for 164 deaths of persons aged 65 and over. Influenza was classified as the underlying cause of death for 137 of these. It is known that deaths from a number of other causes, notably pneumonia and other respiratory conditions, increase significantly during a period of high influenza activity. However, there is no standard method of associating a proportion of these extra deaths with influenza.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 19 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what promotional material will be available to encourage take-up of the flu vaccine by the over 65s this year and how any such material will be made accessible.
Answer
Publicity to accompany the flu vaccination programme is currently being considered by Scottish Executive Health Department officials and by the Winter Performance Group, which comprises a range of external professionals and NHS interests. I shall make an announcement on final plans later this year.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 19 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that alcohol abuse projects which are running successfully do not find their funding at risk after the start-up year, given that for every #1 of central funding, #3 must be sourced elsewhere.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to working with other funders to promote a stable funding environment for the voluntary sector including alcohol misuse projects. The Executive published Good Practice Guidance on funding of voluntary organisations to its Departments, Agencies and NDPB's on 13 June. The Executive actively supports three-year funding for voluntary organisations.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7855 by Henry McLeish on 26 June 2000, when the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council is expected to set up an office in Scotland.
Answer
The Gas and Electricity Consumers' Council will have an office serving Scotland, which will be based in Glasgow. Establishment of the Council will depend on the progress through Westminster of the Utilities Bill.
