To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are of the proposals in the Draft Budget 2014-15 for the resource budget of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.


Answered by Alex Neil (18/09/2013): It is planned to provide NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with a resource funding uplift of 2.7 per cent in 2014-15, which represents 0.8 per cent in real terms.

In 2014-15 we are planning to adjust NHS boards baselines in respect of the Adult and Social Care Change fund, For NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde this has the presentational effect of reducing the headline uplift from 2.7 per cent to 2.6 per cent.

It is also worth noting that the £842 million investment on the new South Glasgow Hospitals Project remains on time and on budget.

To ask the Scottish Government if there are any plans to extend the duration of the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.

Answered by Alex Neil (22/03/2013):
Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry requested a further extension to the duration of the Inquiry which was due to report by 31 May 2013. Members will be aware that Lord MacLean has been unwell and, whilst the Inquiry Team have continued to make progress, Lord MacLean has requested extra time to allow him to fully engage in the work of the Inquiry.
Under these circumstances, I have agreed to a further extension and Lord MacLean will now endeavour to publish his final report in Autumn 2013. I have also requested that Lord MacLean update me in August 2013 with a specific date by which he will report and I will update Parliament at that time.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish interim costs for the Penrose Inquiry.


Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (04/05/2012):The Penrose Inquiry completed its oral hearings on 30 March 2012. The inquiry heard from 67 witnesses over 89 days.

Lord Penrose and his team are now working on the final inquiry report following the publication of the preliminary report in September 2010. The interim cost of the inquiry from 12 January 2009 to 31 March 2012 is £8,788,901. A final figure for the total cost of the Penrose Inquiry will be published when the inquiry has completed its work.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the duration of the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.


Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (27/03/2012):Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry wrote to me on the 25 January 2012 requesting a further extension to the duration of the Inquiry which was due to report by September 2012.

Lord MacLean has indicated that due additional time being required to examine the treatment of individual cases and because of Counsel commitments, additional time is required to prepare his final report. This has led to a request to extend the date of publishing the final Inquiry report to 31 May 2013.

To enable Lord MacLean to fully complete the Inquiry remit, I have agreed to this extension.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to extend the duration of the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (22/03/2011): On 10 December 2010, Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry wrote to me seeking an extension to the duration of the Inquiry which was due to report by 31 May 2011.

Lord MacLean has indicated that the evidence obtained by the Inquiry to date has led to the need for more detailed investigations to be carried out. These investigations include the commissioning of experts to produce a large number of high quality and credible reports. I have agreed with Lord MacLean, therefore, that the date for submitting the Inquiry report be extended to September 2012 although he is hopeful that it may be submitted earlier, possibly by June 2012.

Having carefully considered Lord MacLean''s request, I have agreed to this extension.