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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4T-00805

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in ensuring the safety of nuclear power stations.

Question reference: S4W-22525

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many seals were shot under licence in the (a) first and (b) second reporting periods in 2014.

The number of seals shot under licence in the first and second reporting periods in 2014 is outlined in the following table:

	Quarter 1	Quarter 2
Grey seals	25	68
Common seals	10	9

These figures, of 35 seals shot in Q1 and 77 seals shot in Q2, compared to, 85 in Q1 in 2013 and 95 in Q2 in 2013.

Further information can be found on the Scottish Government website at:-

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicensing.

Information on the subsequent two reporting periods of 2014 will be published on this website in due course.

Question reference: S4O-03536

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the turnout was of the referendum.

Question reference: S4W-22369

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the use of antibiotics on animals.

The Scottish Government has signed up for the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-18, developed in collaboration with public health and veterinary authorities across all UK administrations.

The strategy has seven key areas for future action to reduce the selective pressure for resistance from the use of antimicrobials in livestock and companion animals and focuses on both human and animal health.

Scottish Government officials participate in a number of working groups and committees established to implement the strategy.

For example, the Scottish Government is implementing a plan to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea that has already halved the prevalence of this disease in Scottish cattle, and thus reduced the need for antibiotics.

Question reference: S4W-22368

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2014-18 includes actions to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock farming.

The Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2014-18 only contains human health initiatives.

However, the Scottish Government has signed up for the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-18, developed in collaboration with public health and veterinary authorities across all UK administrations.

The strategy includes measures to reduce the risk of emerging resistance from the use of antimicrobials in livestock and companion animals.

Question reference: S4W-22370

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has on the contribution of antibiotic use in livestock farming to human resistance to medicinal drugs.

Research indicates that antimicrobial resistance in micro-organisms of human health significance is driven by the use of antimicrobial in humans.

Nevertheless, the Scottish Government continuously monitors developments in antimicrobial resistance in animals and humans and has signed up for the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-18, developed in collaboration with public health and veterinary authorities across all UK administrations.

The strategy includes measures to reduce the risk of resistance from the use of antimicrobials in livestock and companion animals.

Question reference: S4W-22176

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 15 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) one-, (b) two-, (c) five- and (d) ten-year lung cancer survival rates are, broken down by (i) cancer network and (ii) NHS board.

Tables 1a, 1b and 1c show survival rates (percentage) up to a) one year; b) two years and c) five years after diagnosis of lung cancer for patients aged 15 years and over in Scotland. As 10 years of follow-up information is not yet available for the cohort included in the analysis, it has not been possible to calculate 10-year survival rates. Data are presented by region and health board of residence.

Table 1a: Survival at one year after diagnosis of lung cancer (2003-07)

Scotland; males and females aged 15 and over.

One year after diagnosis

Number of cases analysed

Percentage

Lower 95% confidence interval

Upper 95% confidence interval

Scotland

20,695

27.4

26.8

28.0

Region

North of Scotland	4,511	28.2	26.8	29.6
South East of Scotland	5,329	28.8	27.6	30.0
West of Scotland	10,855	26.4	25.6	27.2

NHS Board

Ayrshire and Arran	1,547	24.8	22.6	27.0
Borders	406	31.5	27.0	36.0
Dumfries and Galloway	673	25.9	22.6	29.2
Fife	1,403	25.6	23.2	28.0
Forth Valley	1,065	22.8	20.3	25.3
Grampian	1,665	29.1	26.9	31.3
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	5,972	27.3	26.1	28.5
Highland and Argyll	1,070	25.6	23.1	28.1
Lanarkshire	2,271	26.6	24.8	28.4
Lothian	2,847	30.7	28.9	32.5
Orkney	63	36.5	24.5	48.5
Shetland	43	25.6	12.5	38.7
Tayside	1,557	29.5	27.1	31.9
Western Isles	113	20.4	13.0	27.8

Table 1b: Survival at two years after diagnosis of lung cancer (2003-07)

Scotland; males and females aged 15 and over.

Two years after diagnosis

Number of cases analysed

Percentage

Lower 95% confidence interval

Upper 95% confidence interval

Scotland

20,695

14.5

14.1

14.9

Region

North of Scotland	4,511	14.6	13.6	15.6
South East of Scotland	5,329	16.0	15.0	17.0
West of Scotland	10,855	13.7	13.1	14.3

NHS Board

Ayrshire and Arran	1,547	12.9	11.1	14.7
Borders	406	18.2	14.5	21.9
Dumfries and Galloway	673	14.1	11.6	16.6
Fife	1,403	14.1	12.3	15.9
Forth Valley	1,065	12.6	10.6	14.6
Grampian	1,665	14.5	12.7	16.3
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	5,972	14.0	13.2	14.8
Highland and Argyll	1,070	13.6	11.6	15.6
Lanarkshire	2,271	14.0	12.6	15.4
Lothian	2,847	17.1	15.7	18.5
Orkney	63	19.0	9.4	28.6
Shetland	43	11.6	2.0	21.2
Tayside	1,557	15.7	13.9	17.5
Western Isles	113	8.8	3.5	14.1

Table 1c: Survival at five years after diagnosis of lung cancer (2003-07)

Scotland; males and females aged 15 and over.

Five years after diagnosis

Number of cases analysed

Percentage

Lower 95% confidence interval

Upper 95% confidence interval

Scotland

20,695

6.5

6.1

6.9

Region

North of Scotland	4,511	6.3	5.5	7.1
South East of Scotland	5,329	7.8	7.0	8.6
West of Scotland	10,855	6.0	5.6	6.4

NHS Board

Ayrshire and Arran	1,547	5.2	4.0	6.4
Borders	406	9.1	6.4	11.8
Dumfries and Galloway	673	6.4	4.6	8.2
Fife	1,403	6.6	5.2	8.0
Forth Valley	1,065	6.0	4.6	7.4
Grampian	1,665	6.4	5.2	7.6
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	5,972	6.0	5.4	6.6
Highland and Argyll	1,070	5.5	4.1	6.9
Lanarkshire	2,271	6.7	5.7	7.7
Lothian	2,847	8.5	7.5	9.5
Orkney	63	9.5	2.2	16.8
Shetland	43	2.3	-	6.8
Tayside	1,557	6.8	5.6	8.0
Western Isles	113	4.4	0.7	8.1

Source: Scottish Cancer Registry, Information Services Division

Question reference: S4W-22177

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the surgical resection rates for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Under the auspices of the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, National Cancer Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) have been developed to drive continuous quality improvement in cancer care across NHS Scotland.

QPIs for lung cancer were published in November 2013. QPI 6 aims to improve the proportion of patients who undergo surgical resection for non-small-cell lung cancer. The QPI notes that all patients should be considered for surgical treatment appropriate to their stage of disease.

In order to ensure that the chosen target levels are the most appropriate and drive continuous quality improvement as intended, they will be kept under review and revised as necessary, once further evidence or data becomes available. NHS boards will be required to report against this QPI as part of a mandatory, publicly reported programme at a national level.

Question reference: S4W-22179

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the proportion of lung cancer patients seen by a clinical nurse specialist.

Whilst recognising that it is NHS boards’ responsibility to plan and deliver services, including specialist nursing services, taking account of national priorities and local need, there is awareness within the Scottish Government of the increasing prominence of the issue of specialist nursing services.

The Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to host three regional workshops to provide opportunities for specialist nurse groups and other stakeholders to explore current provision and the future direction of specialist nursing in Scotland. NES have now summarised the key themes emerging from these workshops. This will inform future development of the role of specialist nurses. The Scottish Government will take this work forward with the Scottish Executive Nurse Directors, NES and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S4W-22178

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to measure the experiences of lung cancer patients at a (a) national and (b) local level.

The Scottish Cancer Taskforce discussed the possibility of a cancer patient experience survey in Scotland in their meeting on 27 June 2014. The taskforce agreed that further investigation should take place, including examination of the methodology behind the surveys which have taken place in other parts of the UK.

The Scottish Government gathers the experiences of a range of health care users via the biennial Patient Experience Inpatient survey and the biennial Health and Care Experience survey (formerly the GP Patient Experience survey). This includes cancer patients.

As part of the wider quality performance indicators (QPI) work programme, patient experience QPIs were published in April 2014. These seek to capture the experience of cancer patients in Scotland, including lung cancer patients. The aim is to foster a culture of continuous quality improvement at a local level supported by a programme of regional and national comparative reporting and review. This will allow for identification of common themes and best practice for improvement in patient experience.