Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-13664

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2013
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the research published by gastroenterologists at Wake Forest Institute in the United States, Identification of Unique Gene Expression Profile in Children with Regressive Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Ileocolitis, what steps it will take to (a) offer NHS examinations and treatment in schools to children with autism and (b) investigate the cause of the reported intestinal disease.

The research referred to was a small preliminary study that the authors themselves suggest requires replication on a larger scale. It would therefore be inappropriate at this time for the Scottish Government to issue a statement. We must consider the totality of the evidence when we consider changes in priority or the provision of services.

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. CSO responds primarily to requests for funding research proposals initiated by the research community in Scotland. CSO would welcome research proposals in this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

Question reference: S4W-13596

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve the (a) cost and (b) accessibility of dental care.

NHS dental examinations are free to all in Scotland. Fees for treatment and therefore patient charges have been maintained at the same level for over two and half years.

Patients are required to pay 80% of the cost of their NHS dental treatment up to a maximum per course of treatment of £384, unless they are in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost. The percentage of fees paid by patients has remained unchanged since 1993 whilst the maximum charge has remained unchanged since 2005.

Help with the cost of NHS dental treatment for adults is mainly based on an assessment of the individual’s ability to pay. Those in receipt of certain benefits are automatically entitled to free NHS dental treatment while others on low incomes may be able to get either full or partial help with costs under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Over the years the Scottish Government has introduced a range of measures to help improve access to the general dental services, including the opening of the Aberdeen Dental School in 2009, increasing the number of dental therapist being trained and the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI). Since the SDAI was first introduced in 1997 it has been revised several times, most recently in December 2012 to take account of improvements in access to the General Dentistry Services (GDS) in many areas. From that date grants have been targeted at specific areas still experiencing access problems. In areas which continue to experience gaps in GDS provision, and which can not be filled by an independent dentist, NHS boards can establish a directly employed salaried dental service.

Since 2007, there are nearly 500 more dentist providing NHS general dental services across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-13599

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2013

Question reference: S4W-13597

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been carried out by the National Infertility Group.

Question reference: S4W-13595

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether individual circumstances are considered when awarding NHS funding for restorative dental treatment.

Restorative treatment provided under NHS general dental services (GDS) will fall within the same charging arrangement as any other treatment provided under GDS.

Patients are required to pay 80% of the cost of their NHS dental treatment up to a maximum per course of treatment of £384, unless they are in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost.

Help with the cost of NHS dental treatment for adults is mainly based on an assessment of the individual’s ability to pay. Those in receipt of certain benefits are automatically entitled to free NHS dental treatment while others on low incomes may be able to get either full or partial help with costs under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-13594

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide for people with dental bills as a result of an accident rather than dental negligence.

The charging arrangements for treatment provided under NHS general dental services are the same whether the treatment is required as a result of an accident or for other reasons.

Patients are required to pay 80% of the cost of their NHS dental treatment up to a maximum per course of treatment of £384, unless they are in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost.

Help with the cost of NHS dental treatment for adults is mainly based on an assessment of the individual’s ability to pay. Those in receipt of certain benefits are automatically entitled to free NHS dental treatment while others on low incomes may be able to get either full or partial help with costs under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-13598

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) upper and (b) lower age limit is for access to IVF treatment, broken down by NHS board.

For information on the upper age limit for IVF treatment, by NHS Board, I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13477 on 15 March 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

There is no lower age limit for access to IVF treatment in any NHS board in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-12988

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing new regulations to increase the safety of wind turbines in the event of failure during high winds.

Health and safety legislation is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK Department for Work and Pensions.

In its report on Health and Safety in the New Energy Economy (December 2010), the HSE considers that the general provisions of the existing Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 provides the basis of a fit for purpose regulatory framework for renewable energy generation across both onshore and offshore health & safety regimes.

This framework will be kept under review.

Question reference: S4W-12987

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbines have experienced gearbox or brake failure as a result of high winds since 2007.

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