Chamber and committees

All NHS board members areexpected to comply with a Code of Conduct, which has been approved by the Scottish ministers, and which has been based on a standard Model Code ofConduct.

I understand that the Chief Executive of NHS Argyll and Clyde met with you on 2 October 2003to address the points you raised in question S2W-1914. He has undertaken towrite to you providing an update on the position.

TheExecutive will continue to promote co-operation between boards in NHSScotland,the NHS Reform bill’s duty of co-operation on health boards being one aspect ofthis. The existing framework for regional planning is also being strengthened.

I am aware that NHS GreaterGlasgow is represented on NHS Argyll and Clyde’s modernisation group which was established lastyear to take the work on their clinical strategy forward.

I am also conscious thatthere have been a number of meetings on this subject between the seniormanagement of the two NHS boards. The Chief Executive of NHS Argyll and Clyde hasundertaken to write to you in response to your detailed questions.

The Executive has not issuedand has no plans to issue advice to local authorities on the implementation ofguidance issued by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management on child to adult ratiosin swimming pools. The guidance is intended to encourage and assist the makingof appropriate risk assessments. While child safety is of paramount importance,the guidance is not intended to prevent children from having fun and enjoyingthe exercise and socialising aspects of swimming and its benefits in healthterms. It is for individual local authorities and other swimming pool operatorsto interpret and apply the guidance taking into account the circumstances ofeach swimming pool for which they are responsible. However, I would hope that theguidance would be implemented in the spirit which it is intended.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6866 on 24 March 2004.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/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6866 on 24 march 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

An NHS employers’ reference groupfor the consultants’ contract has been meeting on a regular basis since it wasestablished in November 2003. This group, which includes managementrepresentatives from a number of NHSScotland boards and Scottish Executive staff, is overseeing a co-ordinated and consistent approach to planningfor the introduction of the consultants’ contract and has issued regular adviceto all NHSScotland employers to help take forward this work. The group hasexamined in detail the financial aspects of the contract and has been carryingout an assessment of costs across all NHS boards.

Planning for introduction of the new GMS Contract on 1 April 2004 has been on-going since the positive outcome of theUK-wide GP ballot in June 2003. A national reference group, comprised of stafffrom across the NHS boards in Scotland and Scottish Executive representatives, has beenoperating since last year to oversee the implementation process. A finance workinggroup, with its membership drawn from finance directors across NHS boards andthe Scottish Executive, has been meeting on a regular basis to examine thefinancial envelope for GMS in Scotland and identify any likely pressuresresulting from implementation of the new contract. These discussions arecurrent and on-going.

I am currently consideringthese matters and will make an announcement in due course.

The European Commission'sThird Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, published on 18 February,outlines its proposals for Structural and Cohesion Funds in the nextprogramming period for 2007-13. The Commission is expected to publish formalproposals in July 2004 for negotiation among member states and it is hoped thatan agreement on these proposals can be reached in the Council of Ministers bythe end of 2005.

Therefore, the future of EuropeanStructural Funds is still at an early stage and it is not yet possible topredict how much funding any area tourist board will receive post 2006.