I understand that the Chief Executive of West Lothian NHS Trust asked the Information and Services Division (ISD) of the NHS Common Services Agency to review decisions taken by the trust on waiting list classifications, including those in the specialty of plastic surgery, and to advise on whether these decisions were in line with ISD's National Definitions. I further understand that ISD's report was submitted to the trust at the end of April. The conclusions of the report will be published and its recommendations implemented. In particular, any patients identified as having been inappropriately removed from the waiting list will be immediately reinstated by the trust, and included in its waiting list figures for 31 March 2002.

Clinicians with responsibility for treating a patient are also responsible for monitoring their progress and the effects of that treatment, including ensuring that any appropriate follow-up action is taken.

Comprehensive standards and conditions for the welfare of farm animals, reflecting European and domestic legislation, are in place, in the form of Welfare Codes and leaflets and these are reviewed regularly.A new Welfare Code for sheep has recently been issued and, subject to parliamentary approval, it is proposed to issue new Welfare Codes for meat chickens and laying hens in the coming months. In addition, consultation exercises, seeking comments from all interested parties on proposed new Welfare Codes for cattle and pigs, will be undertaken in due course.

Yes. There is extensive European and domestic legislation and comprehensive guidance in place setting out standards and conditions for the welfare of farmed animals. All producers must meet these conditions. Regular inspections are undertaken and breaches of the legislation can result in prosecutions.

The Medicines Control Agency received eight reports of suspected adverse drug reactions through the Yellow Card Scheme, in association with HRT use from GPs in Scotland in 1999 and 2000 and nine reports in 2001.

There are no clinical standards for the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The decision to prescribe a drug for a patient is a matter for the clinical judgement of the patient's doctor based on the patient need, and is informed by the advice and guidance about the drug contained in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) and the Patient Information Leaflet. The SPC contains information on the safe and effective use of a product and provides the health professional with information that may help in determining a patient's possible susceptibility to the known side effects of HRT.

This information is not held centrally.

This information is not held centrally.

There are 13 consultant nurses/midwives currently practising in NHSScotland.

The Scottish Executive has supported NHS trusts by pump-priming the development of nurse consultant posts and in providing £6 million for a specialist nurse initiative to train an additional 210 specialist nurses.I expect NHS trusts to address their current needs and to determine the staffing requirements to meet these.