Chamber and committees

There are no plans to introduce statutory provisions allowing claims for compensation for contamination specifically by a genetically modified organism.It is recognised that some GM crops produce pollen, very small quantities of which may be dispersed by operation of nature beyond the trial site. The consequences of this are considered carefully before consent for release is granted. On the basis of this assessment, the Executive is unaware of any safety or legal reasons why the GM crops which have been approved in Scotland should have an adverse effect on beekeepers or non-GM growers in the vicinity of trial sites.

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that all GM foods to be marketed in the EU must comply with the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97). The European Commission has, however, stated that honey unintentionally containing pollen transferred by bees from GM crops is not a novel food and does not require labelling under that regulation.

It is widely acknowledged that bees foraging on oil seed rape may disperse pollen beyond the trial site no matter what separation distances are in place. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment considers this issue as part of the environmental risk assessment, which is an integral part of the approval process. If pollen dispersal was considered harmful to human health or the environment, the crop would have been refused consent.The separation distances contained in the SCIMAC guidelines have no statutory authority.

The guidelines prepared by SCIMAC are that organisation's own responsibility and have no regulatory authority. Any separation distances stipulated in consents to release GM crops have the confidence of our statutory advisory bodies that they will minimise pollen dispersal effectively. The advisory bodies keep abreast of scientific research in the field of gene flow and regularly review their advice to government on separation distances.

NHS 24 is not being piloted in the Grampian region; Grampian is the first part of Scotland to benefit from the national rollout of this new NHS service. NHS 24 was designed and developed with the support of staff from the Scottish Ambulance Service and accident and emergency services to complement these services. By providing callers with home care advice or, where required, directing them to the most appropriate NHS service it should help reduce inappropriate demand on these services. NHS 24 is working very closely with NHSScotland to maximise nursing resource and minimise impact on local NHS services. Consequently, no additional funding was provided to the Grampian NHS Board area solely because NHS 24 would be launched in that area.

The Health Technology Board for Scotland provides timely advice on the clinical and cost effectiveness of the broad range of existing and new health technologies to NHSScotland, including most recently for mental health on:the prescription of anti-cholinesterases to people with Alzheimer's Disease, andthe prescription of atypical anti-psychotics to people with schizophrenia.NHS Scotland and their care partners will also continue to invest in treatments, approaches, services, support and other interventions that aim not only to treat but also to prevent or reduce the incidence and individual severity of mental illness in Scotland. In terms of investment, over £600 million spent last year alone offers a clear signal of the priority we attach to and our national programme to improve mental health and well-being further signals our intent to maintain this profile.

This investment will enable 1,000 additional people to move from hospital into more appropriate community-based settings at varying costs. It will also allow local authority and NHS board partnerships to put in place a variety of other measures to tackle delayed discharge, including admissions avoidance and rapid response.

Record sums are being invested in the NHS by the Scottish Executive so that we can revitalise services for patients everywhere. As part of our action on workforce development we are encouraging innovative multi-professional teamworking. We are working at local, regional and national levels to provide attractive career opportunities for staff at all levels and in all specialities.

The detailed allocations of the health budget, including NHS 24's, will be published in the draft budget document towards the end of October. NHS 24's funding will facilitate the national rollout of this new NHS service over the next two years. NHS 24 is working very closely with NHSScotland to maximise nursing resource and minimise impact on local NHS services.

The detailed deployment of the resources identified for the modernisation and improvement of general practitioner and dental facilities has yet to be determined.