NHSScotland provides comprehensive orthoptic, or orthoptic-led, pre-school vision screening at four-five years as recommended in Health for all children 4: Guidance on Implementation in Scotland.

In addition in Scotland, children are entitled to a free NHS eye examination annually, which provides a full eye health assessment tailored to meet the needs of the patient. Children are also entitled to optical vouchers to help with the cost of glasses.

It was announced on 14 June 2016 that Scotland’s first Graduate Entry Medical Programme (Scotgem) would have an element of bonding. The Scotgem Programme will commence in autumn 2018 and will have capacity for approximately 40 students. Details of the proposed bonding scheme are currently subject to analysis and informal consultation. It is envisaged that headline details of the proposed scheme will be available by spring this year and well in advance of commencement of Scotgem in 2018.

The Scottish Government's Cancer Plan which sets out our ambitions on improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and after care for people affected by cancer. A key part of that strategy embeds our actions on detecting cancer early, not least through screening programmes which is part of the additional £100 million over five years to help make this strategy a reality.

The national equipment replacement programme oversees the replacement of radiotherapy equipment with leading edge technology to deliver the best available treatment for all cancer patients across Scotland. The capital replacement programme covers the five cancer care centres in Scotland (Lothian, Glasgow, Highland, Tayside and Grampian) and is funded centrally by the Scottish Government. The capital requirement varies on a year to year basis as it depends on when replacement equipment is required, but in 2016-17 capital funding of £5.2 million was allocated to this area.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to lower the age for breast cancer screening in Scotland.

Over the next few years, Public Health England (PHE) will be carrying out a randomised controlled trial in the English Breast Screening Programme screening women from the age of 47 and up to 73 years with some screening centres screening the younger and some the older age group. The purpose is to provide evidence of the effectiveness (or otherwise) of breast screening in the under 50s and over 70s.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) will consider any evidence from this trial. The Scottish Government would then take any advice or recommendations stemming from the UK NSC to the Scottish Screening Committee for consideration.

Each year the Scottish Government publishes the Annual State of NHSScotland Assets and Facilities Report which provides details on the condition of the NHS Estate. The 2015 report can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00503969.pdf and we intend to publish the 2016 report in the Spring of 2017.

The Scottish Government has no plans to provide women who have a history of breast cancer in the family the opportunity to self refer to the breast screening programme. However, a GP can refer such women on to genetics/family history service but this service is not part of the national screening programme. These women would still be invited for screening as part of the breast screening programme once every three years if they are in the eligible age range of 50-70 and have not been screened within the previous six months.

In Scotland there are guidelines for the referral of women with a familial risk of breast cancer and this is the most effective, direct route for assessment and management of these women. Guidance for referral to regional genetics centres for those with a family history of breast cancer is available at http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/cancer_care_improvement/programme_resources/familial_breast_cancer_report.aspx

This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government.

In Scotland, Patient Access Schemes offering discounts by companies to list prices of medicines are considered by the Patient Access Scheme Advisory Group (PASAG) and are commercial-in-confidence. Therefore this information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government are currently working with National Services Scotland Practitioner Services Division to develop an ophthalmic data warehouse which will be available from Spring 2017. This warehouse will allow us to gather more detailed data on eye care as we continue to improve services in Scotland through our Review of community eyecare services and our wider transformation of primary care.

Details of the condition of the NHS Estate can be found in the Annual State of NHSScotland Assets and Facilities Report which can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00503969.pdf.