I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04716 on 23 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government is advised on all vaccination matters by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI recognises the importance of ongoing assessment of HPV vaccination for boys and agreed that further work was required to consider the vaccination of adolescent boys against HPV. Modelling work to look at the impact and cost effectiveness of such a programme is currently being undertaken by Public Health England and is expected to report in early 2017. Following this, and once all the necessary evidence is available, the JCVI will begin its deliberations on extending the HPV vaccination programme to adolescent boys.

The Scottish Government will of course carefully consider any future recommendations made by the JCVI on HPV vaccination.

It is not possible to know what the costs of a gender neutral HPV vaccination programme would be until the JCVI has made its final recommendation, as this will determine the eligibility group to be vaccinated, and potentially the vaccine product to be used.

Modelling work to look at the impact and cost effectiveness of such a programme is currently being undertaken by Public Health England and is expected to report in early 2017. Following this, and once all the necessary evidence is available, the JCVI will begin its deliberations on extending the HPV vaccination programme to adolescent boys.

The Scottish Government will of course carefully consider any future recommendations made by the JCVI on HPV vaccination.

The treatment target is based on advice from the Treatment and Therapies sub-group. This group includes representatives from Health Protection Scotland, NHS Boards, National Procurement and patient representatives. Targets for 2016-17 were considered at a point when the treatment landscape was developing rapidly and during a period of high treatment demand. The group felt that in this context maintaining the target for a further year would provide the most stability to NHS Boards, but that the target should reviewed again for 2017-18. The national treatment target is a minimum target only and treatment numbers in 2016-17 are currently forecast to be 1871. This compares with 1724 treatments in 2015-16.

The national treatment target is a minimum target and is based on reducing hepatitis C related serious liver disease and working towards the eradication of hepatitis C as a serious public health concern within Scotland. NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring that they optimise treatment availability for their local population within their local budgets.

I have received Dr Montgomery’s independent review into Access to New Medicines and am currently considering his recommendations.

The Scottish Government has provided the following funding to NHS Boards for tackling childhood obesity and child healthy weight since 2012-13.

The 2016-17 Budget introduced an Outcomes Framework, a single source of funding to NHS Boards for a number of strategic priorities such as prevention and reducing inequalities. It amalgamates a number of individual funding allocations into a single allocation with a value of £161.2 million across all NHS Boards. Funding for child healthy weigh is included in the Outcomes Framework. NHS Boards have the flexibility to meet agreed outcomes within the overall framework value with individual programmes losing their financial identity.

I, along with my officials, last spoke with the Director of ScotRail on Wednesday 2 November. The meeting discussed ScotRail’s performance over the last week and an update was provided on the initiatives being progressed within the Performance Improvement Plan. In addition, I have engaged with ScotRail weekly to get an update on how performance is trending.

The number of consultant clinical radiologists in NHS Scotland has increased by 43.1 per cent under this Government, to 320.0 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE). The number of therapeutic radiographers has also increased, by 22.1 per cent to 274.2 WTE.

It is not possible to accurately identify all staff defined as ‘radiotherapy specialists’ – either wholly or as part of their role – from centrally held data due to the multi-disciplinary roles involved in the delivery of radiotherapy services.

However, we are continuing to work closely with NHS Boards to support their efforts in recruitment within cancer services to meet the needs of patients, and to deliver a safe and sustainable service.

A range of health care professionals, third sector and advocacy groups were involved during the drafting of the strategy.

Our ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ strategy and the accompanying
£100 million investment over 5 years, serves as a blueprint for the future of cancer services in Scotland, improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of people affected by all cancers. This work links with our tobacco control strategy and the Prevention of Obesity Route Map as evidence shows that smoking and obesity are two of the biggest risk factors for renal cancer.