Chamber and committees

Responses to representationsrefer to the “toolkit” of options provided under the Transport (Scotland)Act 2001 for local authorities to enhance the provision of bus services. This“toolkit” includes quality partnerships and quality contracts. Responses alsomake the point that, given these alternatives, the Executive is not persuadedthat re-regulation of bus services in Scotland is appropriate.

There will be no classicsteacher training places available in 2004-05. Strathclyde Universityhave suspended the course because there is very low demand for classicsteachers. It is the University’s intention to offer the course again in2005-06.

No. It is expected thatHigher Education Institutions run teacher training courses that reflect thedemand for specific subject specialists from education authorities.

Strathclyde University is the only institution that offers teacher trainingin classics.

The plan for action onalcohol problems, which was published in January 2002, sets out a range oflocal and national measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Itprovides a framework for action in the areas of culture change, prevention andeducation, the provision of support and treatment services and protection andcontrols. Since launching the plan, we have, amongst other things, introduced anational alcoholcommunications campaign to change cultures surrounding drinking and promote amore responsible approach to alcohol, and provided funding for NHSHealth Scotland and Alcohol Focus Scotland to raise awareness of alcoholproblems and undertake preventative activities. The partnership agreement commits the Executive to providing additional resources for treatment services incommunities across Scotland.

Greater Glasgow Alcohol Action Team submitted their three-yearalcohol action plan in March. Key action in the plan includes a major review andrepositioning of addiction treatment, care and homelessness services to improveopportunities for early intervention and ensure a whole system approach totreatment care.

Glasgow’s plan notes that reversing the upward trend inalcohol-related deaths requires a long-term approach and there needs to be astrong focus on education and prevention together with regeneration and measuresto tackle inequalities. There are a wide range of alcohol services and groupsrunning in Glasgow and three community alcohol projects working in the east end,Greater Easterhouse and Pollock. Other action in this area includes theintroduction of an arrest referral scheme to target offenders with alcoholproblems and route them into treatment services, the development of familysupport services, the provision of training for primary care teams, social carestaff and teachers, a review of school drug and alcohol education and thedevelopment of procedures to record alcohol-related incidents, and research toinform service developments and maximise opportunities for early intervention.

The plan is available at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/plans/glasgow.pdf.

It is for NHS boards toassess the relative risks and ensure the provision of a safe, effective andhigh quality maternity service balancing risk and taking cognisance of existinginfrastructures, demographics and support mechanisms on a local and regionalbasis. The EGAMS report is a consensus view to advise health boards.

The definition of level IIcand level III maternity units is consistent across both reports including theissue of access to adult intensive care. The risk section of the technicalreport also makes reference to the recommendation in the Confidential Enquiryinto Maternal Deaths (CEMD 2001) regarding on-site adult intensive care inthese units. The expert group agreed that “accessto” adult intensive care was sufficient to provide clinical safety withthe provision of the right risk management, transport and supportinfrastructures. However the optimum arrangement would be co-location of adultintensive care facilities.

The overalleffect of the bill will be that every tenement in Scotland will have a management scheme. Thiswill make it easier for owners to take decisions on repairs and on othermatters of mutual interest and concern. Majority decision making will becomethe norm and I hope that this will lead to many outstanding repairs beingcarried out. Under the existing common law all owners must consent beforerepairs can be carried out and unanimity can often be difficult to achieve.

NHS Greater Glasgow, alongwith all other NHS boards, makes additional beds available each winter to dealwith anticipated seasonal pressures. I understand there are no fewer bedsavailable in NHS Greater Glasgow than were available this time last year. Inaddition, there are more clinical staff working within Glasgow’shospitals now than there were a year ago, as a result of investment fromvarious national initiatives, such as cancer, stroke and coronary heartdisease.

The Executive believes that mediation cancontribute to the effective and efficient administration of justice in thecivil courts. That is why we strongly support its use and are keen to encourageit where feasible and appropriate.  The Executive already provides support andfunding for a range of mediation and advice services. We are activelyconsidering what further action might be taken to encourage greater use.

I understand that theindependent task group now expects to report in May or June. The intention isto publish the report and make it available on the Scottish Executive website. Ministers will thereafter consider the report’s recommendationand respond in due course.