Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive recognises that Zyban has shown to be most effective if used in combination with motivational support and, as such, complements existing smoking cessation services. The Executive is looking at the availability of smoking cessation services. However, Zyban is not clinically suitable for all patients who wish to stop smoking and the decision whether or not to prescribe this treatment is a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctors concerned.

The Executive's press release SE3051/2000 issued on 27 November set out the actions being taken in response to the results of a survey confirming that lead solder had been used in the domestic plumbing systems in new houses in Scotland. These actions should together help to protect the public from the potential ill effects of excess lead in their domestic plumbing and to eliminate the use of lead solder. We are continuing to explore with the Health and Safety Executive and European Commission whether it would be feasible to extend the ban on lead solder. In the meantime, in December the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer's Federation again recommended to its members a voluntary ban on the use of leaded solder.

The Executive has no such plans.

Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, flood prevention schemes which are confirmed by Scottish Ministers are eligible for grant. So far in 2000-01, schemes brought forward by Renfrewshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and Perth and Kinross Council have been confirmed. There have been five schemes in total, all of which meet the cost-benefit criteria for grant assistance. The estimated total cost of each scheme is set out below.

Council	Scheme	Estimated Cost
Renfrewshire Council	Moredun, Paisley FPS	£750,000
	Collier Street, Johnstone FPS	£693,000
East Dunbartonshire Council	River Kelvin FPS	£8,500,000
Perth & Kinross Council	Bridge of Earn FPS	£740,000
	Weem Village FPS	£362,000

The importance of professional expertise in the management of the Scottish Executive's major construction projects is recognised. As well as the appointment of professionals to provide design and cost control services, professionally qualified project managers are normally employed, and where clients themselves are not technical experts, they are supported by client advisers with the appropriate expertise.

The Joint Future Group has identified and agreed a list of measures which all local authorities, health boards and NHS trusts should put in place to deliver effective, integrated services and has set deadlines by which this should be done. We are currently consulting on the group's report.

The Scottish health plan, Our National Health, published on 14 December, commits the Executive to introducing the Joint Future Group's recommendations on joint resourcing and joint management, and to legislating if necessary to remove any remaining barriers to joint working between the NHS, social work and housing departments.

Our National Health also makes clear that local authorities will have a strong voice on the new Unified NHS Boards through membership of the boards. It also commits NHS Boards to joint planning with local authorities in their areas, so that health planning and community planning are integrated. The Health Plan commits NHS Boards to work with local authorities and other partners to understand and respond to the needs of patients and communities, to improve the health of their communities and to deliver healthcare and other related services.The Scottish Executive will monitor the progress of NHS bodies and local authorities in working together at local level to make these developments happen.

Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local road authorities are responsible for all aspects of road safety, road maintenance and traffic management on local roads in their area. It is up to each individual council to consider the need for particular measures to safeguard road users and to determine the priority that should be given to particular schemes in the light of competing demands on their resources. This could include the making of traffic regulation orders allowing private hire cars access to a specific part of the road, such as a bus lane.

The allocation to Falkirk Council announced on 7 December includes Level Playing Field Support for Schools of approximately £26 million. Falkirk Council's single capital allocation will also rise to approximately £9 million (a 44.6% increase) over the next three years. The Single Allocation covers roads and transport, education, social work, private housing and general services (including coast protection and flood prevention). It is for Falkirk Council to decide how its Single Allocation is spent.

The Scottish Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority are responsible for encouraging tourist visits through the generic marketing of Scotland as a tourism destination. A New Strategy for Scottish Tourism, published in February, contains many new actions designed to grow tourism throughout Scotland.

Education authorities are required to make adequate provision for pupils with speech and language impairment. Grant-aided expenditure of £6.5 million per year from April 1999 is available to local authorities for speech and language therapy services for pupils with Records of Needs.In addition, Scottish Ministers are committed to a review of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy services for children. The issues relating to the recruitment of speech and language therapists will be addressed as part of this review. Scottish Executive Education and Health Department officials have been consulting on the remit and timescale of the review, in association with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy. Ministers will make a decision on the final remit soon.