Chamber and committees

Individual Learning Account (ILA) members who had not enrolled in learning before the scheme's closure and who had not started their learning by 31 January cannot now access ILA-discounted learning. However, any learner whose learning was booked on the ILA Centre computer system before its suspension on 23 November will still be able to access ILA funds, irrespective of the date on which they start their learning.

Staffing information below trust level is not available centrally but will be held by local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management personnel are available on: www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

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

I approved the outline business case for the proposed new West of Scotland Cancer Centre at Gartnavel Hospital on 29 January. Detailed planning for the new centre, including the timetable for the project, services to be provided, numbers of patients capable of being treated and the workforce required to deliver services, are matters which are being taken forward by NHS Greater Glasgow and will be reflected in the full business case.

The trust acknowledges that at present waiting times for imaging remain higher than is acceptable. However, it believes that this financial year will see significant improvements through the investment in equipment and the recruitment of additional radiographers and radiologists. In the run up to these developments having a positive and sustainable impact on waiting times, the trust has put in place additional imaging sessions in the evening at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Firearms policy and legislation are reserved matters. However, the Scottish Executive is represented on the Firearms Consultative Committee, the independent statutory body established to keep under review the working of the provisions of the Firearms Acts and to make recommendations to the Home Secretary for improving their working.The latest published statistics for Scotland on gun-related crimes and deaths show a marked downward trend between 1991 and 2000. Final figures for 2001 in respect of crimes and offences recorded by the police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used will not be published until September 2002. It is difficult to comment substantively in advance of that but any increase would be deplored. As regards the circulation of illegal weapons, the police and other enforcement agencies continue to put significant effort into tackling this.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20764 on 4 February 2002.

Interim arrangements for the provision of oncology clinics in the west of Scotland serviced by the Beatson Oncology Centre consultants were announced by NHS Greater Glasgow on 18 January 2002. These arrangements seek to ensure that services for patients with newly diagnosed cancer, and those with recurrence of active disease, are preserved and importantly, that the timescale within which these patients are seen will not lapse.The central role of the National Waiting Times Unit is to ensure that the Scottish Executive's policy of acting to reduce waiting times and to achieve waiting times targets across the patient's journey of care is implemented successfully by NHSScotland. Patients are not currently experiencing waits for treatment at the Beatson which exceed targets and guidelines. There is no waiting time for chemotherapy treatment, and at present, radiotherapy waiting times are approximately four weeks - a reduction from seven to eight weeks over the past year. It is hoped that further waiting times reductions will be delivered as the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues, with a further two additional linear accelerators in place during 2002.

I expect the review to conclude in the spring of 2002.

Chief Constables both individually and collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are providing diversity awareness training, guidance and support to create a climate which will enable officers to engage with confidence and in an appropriate manner with members of minority ethnic communities.