Chamber and committees

As with all cancer centres, the numbers of patients treated at the Beatson Oncology Centre depend on the numbers of new patients referred and the pattern and disposition of in-patient and out-patient services. Out-patient facilities are delivered both at the Beatson and at outreach clinics across the West of Scotland. Chemotherapy treatment is often delivered at local hospitals and clinics so that patients are treated as close to home as possible. During the year ending 30 September 2001 the following in-patient and day case episodes and out-patient attendances were recorded at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, for clinical and medical oncology. The Beatson Oncology Centre is sited within the Western Infirmary.

	In-Patient Episodes1	Day Case episodes	Out-Patient Attendances
Clinical Oncology	5,234	6,476	14,238
Medical Oncology	2,265	3,794	8,965
Total	7,499	10,270	23,203

Notes:1. Includes in-patient discharges and transfers out.2. Provisional data provided by ISD Scotland.3. Some of these episodes and out-patient attendances will relate to multiple treatments/attendances of individual patients.

There is no provision under the terms of the Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) scheme to make compensation payments. However, closure of the scheme should not result in a loss to any ILA member. Commitments given to those who had enrolled for learning by the closure date and who had started their learning by 31 January will be honoured.

We have already said that we are aiming to make better use of technology and civilian staff as well as cutting paperwork. The drive to reduce bureaucracy is being taken forward on a range of fronts including, for example, the review of common police services; through the implementation of best value principles; through provisions in the forthcoming legislation and in other ways to release more police officers for front line work; and through investment in better information and communications technology. These measures are just part of the wide-ranging reform agenda for the police in Scotland which we are taking forward in partnership with police authorities and police associations.

The Action Programme to reduce youth crime 2002 contains 24 action points and work to implement these is under way or in development. We will report on progress by the end of 2002, by which time we expect to have made significant progress.

Resources to support provision of school meals are part of the unhypothecated funding made available to authorities in support of local services including school education. Information in the form requested is, therefore, not collected centrally.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22733.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22733.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22733.

It is not possible to quantify this figure on a monthly basis. In total over 215,000 Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) were opened in 2001 and over 108,000 activated. The number of learners taking up learning, with or without an ILA grant, would be expected to vary from year to year.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232 on 17 December 2001, which set out the remit of the expert panel.