Chamber and committees

Details of the number of HIV cases to the end of 1999, both new and cumulative, can be obtained from the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) annual report issued in April this year. This can be located at the following web address:

http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/aidshiv/aidspdf/annualreport2000.pdf

The Arbuthnott Steering Group carried out an extensive review of the data, the methods of analysis and the results in response to the issues raised during consultation on the first report on Fair Shares for All. In particular, the method of taking into account relative deprivation was revised to improve its robustness and transparency and this led to some changes in the assessment of the influence of deprivation on each health board's relative need for resources. In addition, the method of assessing the influence of remoteness has also been strengthened. Other changes include updating the analysis to take account of data for 1997-98 which was not available when the earlier work was carried out.

Although Orkney's share of resources for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will be reduced under the new formula they will continue to receive a level of funding per head of population during the lifetime of this Parliament that is well above the national average. They will also continue to receive substantial increases in their level of funding which will enable them to develop and improve services for their population. In 2001-02 their funding for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will go up by 5.5%.

The Arbuthnott Steering Group carried out an extensive review of the data, the methods of analysis and the results in response to the issues raised during consultation on the first report on Fair Shares for All. In particular, the method of taking into account relative deprivation was revised to improve its robustness and transparency, and this led to some changes in the assessment of the influence of deprivation on each health board's relative need for resources. In addition, the method of assessing the influence of remoteness has also been strengthened. Other changes include updating the analysis to take account of data for 1997-98 which was not available when the earlier work was carried out.

Although Shetland's share of resources for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will be reduced under the new formula, they will continue to receive a level of funding per head of population during the lifetime of this Parliament that is well above the national average. They will also continue to receive substantial increases in their level of funding which will enable them to develop and improve services for their population. In 2001-02 their funding for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will go up by 5.5%.

I refer themember to the answer given to question S2W-2017. 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.

A start will be made in 2001-02 in applying a resource allocation formula to general medical services. In that year, £470,000 of additional money for general medical services will be distributed through the allocation formula recommended in the Final Report of the Arbuthnott Review. Implementation of the new formula will continue in subsequent years.

The formula developed for general medical services takes into account the influence of deprivation and remoteness on the relative need for healthcare resources. By targeting resources on the areas of greatest need, the new formula will help to ensure that major inequalities in health can be tackled. More generally, the substantial increase in resources that we have announced for the NHS in 2001-02 will enable all health boards in Scotland to address the issue of health inequalities.

The average cost per patient per week at the State Hospital is £1,346, based on 1998-99 figures.

In accordance with the Scottish Ministerial Code, Ministers are expected to be as open as possible with the Parliament, and they aim to respond in debate to points raised, as time permits. The Executive does not monitor the number of questions asked further to questions asked in the course of debates.

Reducing waiting is one of the Executive's most important objectives for the health service in Scotland. Health boards and NHS Trusts are responsible for providing efficient and responsive health services, including services relating to dental health.

Entering the Dentists Register in the UK is not the same as working in the UK. Entry to the register does not guarantee entry to the UK or a work permit to work here. Home Office permission must still be granted and immigration criteria satisfied. Impending rule changes mean that registrations by overseas graduates were high last year and that the average figure of 9% is likely to drop in future.

In Scotland, 98.6% of General Dental Practitioners (GDP) trained in the UK, (91.3% in Scotland) 1% in the EC including Ireland and 0.4% trained overseas.

The Scottish Executive Health Department is pursuing policies aimed at retaining Scottish graduates in Scotland.

Many educational organisations are involved in the education and training of the professions complementary to dentistry. Colleges of further education in Scotland make a considerable contribution to the education and training of dental nurses and dental technicians, and Edinburgh Dental Institute has a training course for dental hygienists. Therefore, whilst the Scottish Executive encourage all members of the dental team to be trained in the same environment where possible, education will continue to be undertaken in these centres of educational excellence, working in close liaison with the two dental schools.