Chamber and committees

We have set up a dedicated team to implement single shared assessment for older people in the first instance and a reference group to advise it. More directly, we issued guidance in setting out the key steps to implementation and the essential infrastructures we expect to be in place by 1 April 2002. And to promote and support implementation locally, we held regional seminars and are currently visiting every local authority area. Single shared assessment will be extended to the rest of community care in the course of 2002-03.

A range of leadership development programmes have been supported by the Executive and delivered in local NHS organisations since the publication of the Scottish Health Plan. In addition, the National Leadership Programme, Xceed, launched in April 2001, is currently providing leadership to a range of NHS personnel including doctors, nurses administrative and other staff engaged in managerial functions. The programme has been well received and demand for places has been, and continues to be, very high.

The Scottish Executive's Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School Through Ill-Health was issued on 19 December 2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18538).

Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change was published in July 2001. The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland was issued in September 1997 and has subsequently been updated. The Executive established a CHD/Stroke Task Force which reported in September 2001. Following consultation, which is now complete, the strategy for Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke is expected to be ready for publication this spring.

The Scottish Partnership Forum Partnership Information Network (PIN) Board has set up a Guideline Development Group to produce a PIN Guideline on Long and Good Service Awards. The group's membership comprises of health service managers and nominations from trade union and the professions. The group will deliver a draft document for consultation in the summer and issue during autumn.

A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland, published in 2001, requires NHS Boards to provide parent education programmes and support to parents as part of their maternity strategies. The Scottish Executive is currently conducting an audit of these strategies against the principles laid out in the framework. The Health Education Board for Scotland, the Scottish Executive Health Department and the Royal College of Midwives held a stakeholder event in November 2001 to review approaches to antenatal and parent education with midwives, health visitors and parents. A follow up event is planned in March.

Progress on implementing good practice on staff issues relating to disability will be made through the Staff Governance Standard which I launched on 25 January at the Scottish Partnership Forum Conference. The Standard requires NHS employers to ensure Partnership Information Network guidelines such as the Equal Opportunities Guideline which includes disability are implemented and progressed. In addition, a self assessment audit on the implementation of "Learning Together", the Strategy for Education and Lifelong Learning for NHSScotland staff to ensure all staff are appropriately trained, will be undertaken by the local partnership forum.

The Executive is committed to achieving a ban on tobacco advertising and promotion in Scotland which is both effective and enforceable. We do not rule out Scottish legislation at some point, but consider that UK wide action would enable a much more comprehensive ban to be delivered. The UK Government is committed to legislate to effect a ban during the lifetime of the current Westminster Parliament and we have been pressing hard and consistently for this to be done as soon as possible. We are following with interest the progress in the House of Lords of the Lord Clement-Jones Bill to ban tobacco advertising and promotion.

The promised planning and audit document was published on 12 February 2001 and sent to all relevant agencies. A copy is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 12345).

A Short Life Working Group has prepared draft guidance on domestic abuse for all health care workers. This guidance explains the nature and prevalence of domestic abuse and its effects on health. It identifies the signs which may suggest abuse, establishes the principles which should inform practice and gives guidance on appropriate support and advice. The Short Life Working Group is currently consulting widely on the draft document, which is expected to be published in April 2002.