Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30776 on 26 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Representatives of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club had been in contact with Scottish Government officials during the week commencing 4 January 2010 because the club was seeking financial support for a documentary film that was being planned should the grand match go ahead the following weekend. EventScotland officials were also in contact with the club and had offered advice about practical aspects of the event.

The club had removed the Lake of Menteith from its list of potential sites for the grand match in 2000-01 for various reasons including the issue of suitable car parking. It became apparent on 4 January 2010 that the relevant landowners in the area would in fact allow access and parking adjacent to the Lake of Menteith, and the club representatives met with Central Scotland Police and other emergency services on 6 and 8 January 2010.

Following clear unambiguous advice from the police and other emergency services the club representatives concluded that there was not time to prepare satisfactory plans for traffic and access for emergencies before the weekend. It is for this reason that the club cancelled its plans for a grand match on the Lake of Menteith over the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2010.

The club has informed the Scottish Government that plans were already in place for the other main potential sites for a grand match (Piper Dam and Loch Leven), although over the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2010, the ice at these sites was not suitable. The club is now updating its plans for all three sites with a view to being ready should suitable weather conditions return.

The Grand Matches are arranged by the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. As the event organiser, it is for the Club to make decisions about holding the event following discussion with the relevant Police and emergency services. These discussions will include measures to ensure the safety of participants and spectators. In this way the public interest has to be taken into account by the event-organisers. Most event-organisers will also seek to arrange third party liability insurance to protect themselves in the event of action from third parties.

Ministers have been fully briefed on the circumstances surrounding the Royal Caledonian Curling Club''s decision not to go ahead with an event at the Lake of Menteith on 9 and 10 January 2010. The Club is now updating its plans for all three sites with a view to being ready should suitable weather conditions return. EventScotland officials are in contact with the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and are able to provide advice if necessary.

Information on the operation of Direct to Pharmacy schemes was provided to Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) by their members. CPS has shared this information with the Scottish Government as it relates to difficulties in the medicines supply chain. The Scottish Government has no plans to publish the information.

I understand that the Royal Caledonian Curling Club held two meetings with Central Scotland Police and other public agencies to discuss holding a bonspiel, or Grand Match, on the Lake of Menteith. The police and other emergency services gave advice about safety issues arising from the holding of such an event. The Royal Caledonian Curling Club subsequently decided not to proceed with the event. The Scottish Government was not involved in those discussions and the precise nature of any advice given is a matter for those who attended the meetings.

The decision on whether to hold a bonspiel was a matter for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club not ministers so the emergency services did not provide any such advice to ministers.

The police do not have any specified powers to stop such an event. The onus is on event organisers to run a safe event.

No power or legislation was invoked to prevent the proposed bonspiel on Lake of Menteith. The Royal Curling Club took the decision not to go ahead.

We are aware that Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has been collecting information from community pharmacists about supply difficulties. We understand from CPS that this information contains details of difficulties with supply but no clinical details about individual patients or the effect on their treatment.

While the choice of method of medicines distribution is a commercial decision by the individual pharmaceutical company, the Scottish Government expects patients to continue to receive the medicines they need promptly.