Chamber and committees

Scottish Homes plans to approve 1,300 new and improved homes for social rent in Glasgow and North Clyde Region during 2000-01. Eighty-five of these homes will be in Glasgow Kelvin.

I have received many views in relation to our proposals for a single social tenancy incorporating a modernised right to buy. I am aware of the position of Partick Housing Association and will consider how their particular circumstances can be reflected in our final proposals to be announced early in the summer.

In 2000-01 Scottish Homes' Glasgow and North Clyde Region plans to spend (a) £65 million in the city of Glasgow as a whole, and (b) £4 million in Glasgow Kelvin.

Of the £8 million allocated by Scottish Homes in 2000-01 to upgrade tenements and provide new homes at inner city gap sites in Glasgow, £4 million will be spent in Glasgow Kelvin.

On current plans, of the £51 million of private sector funding which Scottish Homes' Glasgow and North Clyde Region aims to attract during 2000-2001, £2.275 million will be invested in Glasgow Kelvin.

As part of England's public health agenda, as detailed in its White Paper Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation, a Public Health Observatory is being established in each of its eight NHS Regions. Their role will be to facilitate local priority-setting and planning by monitoring disease patterns and trends at local level; to analyse data to give early warning of emerging health problems and changes in health trends, and to evaluate the impact of local actions and assess the effectiveness of local agencies in improving health and tackling health inequalities. In Scotland the forthcoming creation of the Public Health Institute, which was proposed as part of the review of the Public Health Function, will contribute to the development and co-ordination of the efforts of the organisations already working on such issues.

I refer to the answer given to question S1W-6710.

The results of the Scottish project aimed at assessing the implications of extending the upper age limit of invitation for breast screening are being considered by the Scottish Breast Screening National Advisory Group. In addition, the UK National Screening Committee will also be considering the evidence available on this issue when they next meet in June. I will consider the recommendations and any associated costs from both the National Screening Committee and National Advisory Group in due course.

The Scottish Screening Programme Central Co-ordinating Unit provides guidance to Breast Screening Centres about repeat mammogram appointments. The number of views taken at repeat mammography appointments is based on an assessment of each individual case and depends on the reason for calling the woman back and on the individual's physical condition. Geographical location is not taken into account in determining the number of views.

Yorkhill and Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trusts have been collaborating with Greater Glasgow Health Board in reviewing the provision of Children's Community Health Services in the health board's area. I believe that a report on their findings will be discussed at a meeting of the health board's Child Health Strategy Group later this month.

Further information is available from either of the Trusts or the health board direct.