Written Answers
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Friday 6 November 2015 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Health and Social Care Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update its guidance on the use of antipsychotic medication for patients with dementia or learning disability issued in 2006 to reflect current research. (S4W-28045) Jamie Hepburn: Guidelines on the prescribing of antipsychotic medications will be informed by best clinical practice and by national Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines: SIGN 86 for the management of dementia and SIGN 98 for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The current SIGN guideline for autism spectrum disorder is currently being updated to incorporate new evidence on pharmacological interventions. Publication is expected in the spring of 2016. These guidelines are produced in collaboration with patients, carers and members of the public and requests for change can be addressed to the SIGN executive team within Health Care Improvement Scotland and can be made by anyone with an interest in dementia or learning disability. Stuart McMillan (West Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions regarding Weightlifting Scotland it has had with sportscotland since 2007. (S4W-28092) Jamie Hepburn: In recent months, there have been discussions with sportscotland about governance issues in Weightlifting Scotland. John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the review of out-of-hours primary care services. (S4W-28151) Shona Robison: Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie will submit his findings and recommendations from the national review of primary care out-of-hours services to me early this month (November 2015). Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what Food Standards Scotland's position is on the maximum residue levels of glyphosate exposure to wheat and imported soya crops that has been set by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. (S4W-28159) Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond. His response is as follows: “FSS considers that current levels of pesticide residues in food, including glyphosate levels, which are regulated by EU regulations, do not provide concern for food safety based on current information.” Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what study Food Standards Scotland has conducted on the carcinogenic effects of glyphosate and its exposure levels in (a) imported soya for livestock consumption and (b) store-bought bread. (S4W-28160) Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond. His response is as follows: “FSS was established in April 2015 and has not commissioned any studies in this area. FSS is however advised by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate, which is the UK regulator on such matters, as well as the independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.” Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what Food Standards Scotland's position is on the (a) World Health Organization classifying glyphosate as a carcinogen and (b) Soil Association's reported claim that glyphosate is found in 30% of all bread tested in the UK. (S4W-28161) Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond. His response is as follows: “The current approval for use of glyphosate in plant protection is being reviewed under the auspices of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and their conclusions, following that process, are likely to be published by the end of 2015. FSS will consider EFSA’s conclusions in line with competent authorities for food safety elsewhere in the UK and EU. FSS considers that current levels of pesticide residues in food, including glyphosate levels, which are regulated at an EU level, do not provide concern for food safety based on current information.” Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what Food Standard Scotland's position is regarding the reported 400% increase in the use of glyphosate over the last 20 years, and whether the agency plans to limit its use on farms. (S4W-28162) Maureen Watt: I have asked Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to respond to the first part of this answer. His response is as follows: “FSS considers that current levels of pesticide residues in food, including glyphosate levels, which are regulated by EU regulations, do not provide concern for food safety based on current information.” FSS does not have powers to limit pesticide use on farms, however, pesticide products are strictly regulated by EU regulations, and can only be sold or used if authorised by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive. There is a wide range of legislation and administrative controls governing authorisation, marketing, storage and use, in order to manage risks appropriately. An authorisation from the Health and Safety Executive will specify the crops and situations for its use, and the amounts which may be applied. Jim Hume (South Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the finding in Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: October 2014 Report that healthy life expectancy at birth in the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland was 24.3 years lower than in the least deprived areas for men and 22.5 years lower for women. (S4W-28168) Jamie Hepburn: Overall, health in Scotland is improving, and people are living longer, healthier lives. Reducing the health gap between people in Scotland’s most deprived and affluent communities is one of our greatest challenges. The government recognises that this problem cannot be solved with health solutions alone and that it is caused by wider inequalities linked to deprivation. The Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities highlighted the importance of providing the best possible start in life. Here the government is also working collaboratively with our partners to improve children's wellbeing and life chances with an aim to break inter-generational cycles of poverty, inequality and deprivation – demonstrated through the collective investment of over £274 million in the Early Years Change Fund to improve children’s life chances, which includes investing £18 million to further develop high quality, co-ordinated and accessible support for families. Jim Hume (South Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to focus more resources and support on downstream activities rather than dealing with issues upstream, in light of the findings in Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: October 2014 Report. (S4W-28171) Jamie Hepburn: The government recognises the need to take action upstream in line with the evidence to prevent health inequalities arising for example maximising household resources through the social wage continuing free personal care for the elderly, abolition of tuition fees, scrapping of bridge tolls and prescription charges, free eye examinations, freezing council tax and provision of concessionary bus passes. The government continues to treat the effects of health inequalities on people's health and support health behaviour changes through smoking cessation and alcohol reduction interventions. Jim Hume (South Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many daycare centres for disabled children there are in each local authority area, and what information it has regarding how many face possible closure because of budget reductions. (S4W-28189) Jamie Hepburn: There is no centrally held information on the number of day centres across Scotland. Learning and Justice Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27337 by Michael Matheson on 17 September 2015, whether it will provide the minute of the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Chief Constable on (a) 15 January 2015, (b) 18 February 2015, (c) 18 March 2015, (d) 23 April 2015 and (e) 28 May 2015. (S4W-27994) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not routinely release details of what was discussed in private meetings and has no plans to do so on this occasion. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the setting up of free schools outside local authority control. (S4W-28192) Angela Constance: Schools in Scotland are operated by local councils to make them accountable to the communities they serve. Whilst we continue to be interested in discussing new ideas for improving our education system, we are clear that our approach to raising standards must be based on robust evidence of what works. We have seen little evidence to suggest that the free school model adopted by the UK Government should be replicated in Scotland. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with residents of East Dunbartonshire about setting up a new free school outside local authority control. (S4W-28193) Angela Constance: Scottish Ministers met residents of East Dunbartonshire in March and September 2015 to discuss their request to establish and operate a community school outwith local authority control. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support it has provided to free schools outside local authority control. (S4W-28194) Angela Constance: There are no free schools in Scotland and consequently no financial support is provided by the Scottish Government. The following questions received holding answers: S4W-27985 S4W-27986 S4W-27987 S4W-27988 .