Chamber and committees

The Good Practice Statement contains an example of a generic care pathway that includes appropriate referral to a specialist clinic or treatment centre, without reference to NHS board boundaries.

The Statement and its accompanying documents can be found at:

http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/GoodPracticeStatementonME-CFSforGeneralPractitioners.

The Scottish Good Practice Statement is based on the principle that all treatment should be collaborative and tailored to the needs of the individual patient. It recognises that general practitioners may well need to make referrals to designated clinical services for assistance with the management of patients.

The report of the Scottish Public Health Network''s needs assessment of ME-CFS also outlines a recommended service model that includes specialist hospital services. The report is available at:

http://www.scotphn.net/pdf/Final_report_web_version_240910_pdf.pdf

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing learning through the arts and culture, and enabling young people to develop creative skills. We are providing ongoing support for the Youth Music Initiative, which provides young people with opportunities to get involved in music. In 2011-12, £10 million will be invested in the scheme, incorporating the allocation of £8 million for local authorities to widen access to free music tuition for primary pupils.

We have also published the Education and the Arts, Culture and Creativity Action Plan, being delivered in partnership with Learning and Teaching Scotland and Creative Scotland, with the aim of developing the role and impact of the arts and creativity within and across Curriculum for Excellence. Furthermore, curriculum guidance sets out the opportunities and progression routes learners have through the Expressive Arts Experiences and Outcomes to develop their skills in performing and creating music.

The number of Scottish Executive staff working in core directorates, who were unable to get to work between 29 November and 8 December 2010 was as follows:

Date	Numbers
Monday 29 November*	19
Tues 30 November	675
Wednesday 1 December	731
Thursday 2 December	546
Friday 3 December	409
Monday 6 December	641
Tuesday 7 December	495
Wednesday 8 December	247

Note: *Privilege holiday for most Scottish Government employees.

 

Sea lice inspections “ 284, containment inspections “ 501.

Sea lice inspections “ 136, containment inspections “ 216.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38160 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38160 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Healthier Fish Working Group was established by the Scottish Government in order that it could make recommendations to the Ministerial Group on Aquaculture (MGA), which it did in June of this year. Officials have been considering the recommendations and I intend to further discuss the recommendations with the industry at the next meeting of the MGA in February. On the specific question of unannounced visits to fish farms, I can confirm that the Fish Health Inspectorate is currently considering the practical aspects of carrying out such inspections with a view to their commencement in 2011.

The results of individual inspections are not routinely published, although they are and have been made available where requested under the terms of freedom of information legislation. A publication plan, which would see the outcomes of routine and enhanced inspections being published, has been submitted for consideration by Marine Scotland officials.