Chamber and committees

Scottish Enterprise Tayside is funded to implement all aspects of its agreed strategy and to deal with economic pressures that may arise from time to time within its area.

All six of the potential scenarios will be costed and evaluated against non-financial criteria as part of their development by about July 2000. This process will be carried out by Clinical Working Groups established by the Review Project Team and representing the interests of the range of relevant professional disciplines.

Since 1January 2000, Mr Sam Galbraith has met the Albanian Minister for Education and Science; Susan Deacon has met the Finnish Ministers for Social Affairs and Health and Social Services; Sarah Boyack has met the Icelandic Minister for Transport, Communications and Tourism and Ms Wendy Alexander and Jackie Baillie have met the Irish Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs. In addition, I have met the Czech Deputy Prime Minister and, with Mr Tom McCabe, the Bavarian Minister for European Affairs. We all discussed issues relevant to the people of Scotland.

I refer Mr Welsh to my answer to his question S1W-4429.

The people of Tayside deserve well-run, flexible health services in which they can have confidence - and for which local health bodies are truly accountable. I therefore announced on 15 February, the creation of a high level Task Force whose remit is to work with Tayside Health Board and the two local NHS Trusts to ensure that local health services are planned and delivered effectively and within the total resources available.The Task Force has been put in place to work with and alongside the Tayside Health Board and Trusts to:

deliver an effective financial recovery plan for the local acute Trust which is forecasting an overspend by end March of up to £12 million;

develop a cohesive Health Improvement Programme and Trust Implementation Plans which deliver real improvements in health for the people of Tayside; and progress the local Acute Services Review which will map out the delivery of modern, patient-centred hospital services in the medium and longer-term.Any findings and recommendations made by the Task Force will be for the Health Board and the two NHS Trusts to consider. The Scottish Executive Health Department will continue to assess the performance of the NHS in Tayside through its normal performance management arrangements and the work of the Task Force will be an integral part of that arrangement.I have given the Task Force a great deal of autonomy over the means by which they achieve this very challenging task. This may involve public or private consultation but ultimately the decision on this matter shall rest with the members of the Task Force.

I refer Mr Welsh to my answer to his question S1W-4429.

I refer Mr Welsh to my answer to his question S1W-4429.

I refer Mr Welsh to my answer to his question S1W-4429.

I received a report on the Postgraduate Students' Allowances Scheme in November last year which made a number of recommendations to change the current system following a review by the Miller Committee. The review took evidence from a wide range of organisations, including the NUS who also had an observer working with the Committee. The report was given to the Cubie inquiry which also made a number of recommendations in this area. We are now considering these and will consult further as appropriate. There will be no change in the current system of funding for 2000-01.

There is no central policy on the disposition of beds for particular types of patient.The majority of acute orthopaedic and trauma patients are elderly patients with fractured hips who often have other medical complications. In addition to available beds, optimum care for these patients is dependent primarily on the provision of the appropriate mix of suitably qualified staff.The disposition of beds and staffing among the different specialities and hospitals is for agreement between the clinicians and managers at local level, looking always for the options that provide optimum care for patients.