Chamber and committees

Curriculum Design for the Secondary Stages: Guidelines for Schools published in June 1999 provides clear curricular goals, i.e. "schools have a responsibility to help pupils be disposed to have: a commitment to learning; respect and care for self; respect and care for others; and a sense of social responsibility." The Health Education Board for Scotland, who give a lead to many national health education efforts in Scotland is supporting a number of projects in schools designed to promote mental wellbeing and is committed to developing resources to assist teachers in recognising children who may need additional professional support.

Local authorities know the aggregate figures for Government Supported Expenditure (GSE) and Aggregate External Finance (AEF) for 1999-2000 until 2001-02, which we announced at the time of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 1998. The figures for 2000-01 and 2001-02 were confirmed in my statement on 6 October and published in our consultation document Spending Plans for Scotland. I made clear in the Scottish Parliament on 1 March that I will be discussing the development of three year budgeting with CoSLA over the coming months.

The Glasgow Housing Partnership Steering Group last met on 28 February and is scheduled to meet shortly. Meetings have been held as and when it was appropriate to discuss the work in progress.

All patients receive an information leaflet with each dispensed prescription providing information on the safe and correct use of medicines including potential side-effects. Good clinical practice recommends that all health professionals advise patients on the treatments they are receiving, including the benefits as well as potential side effects.

It is for Health Boards, working with NHS Trusts to determine how best to use the additional resources in light of local needs and circumstances. The Chief Medical Officer has established a short-life group to examine how intensive care and high dependency services can be improved. The group will look at ways of improving the flexibility of these services and of matching provision with need. Health Boards will be expected to take full account of the Group's recommendations when taking decisions about how the additional resources should be used.

This is a matter for the clinical judgement of the GP who will determine the frequency of medication review for epileptic patients based on clinical need. Existing national clinical guidelines published by SIGN in 1997 on "the Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy in Adults" are scheduled for review this year.

A total of 11 patients were admitted from the waiting list in Scotland for surgery to treat epilepsy during the year ending 31 March 1999. The median wait for treatment was 34 days. Information on the number of waiting list admissions for surgery to treat epilepsy, by health board of residence, is provided below.

Health Board	Number of Patients	Waiting Time (days)
Argyll and Clyde	1	22
Ayrshire and Arran	1	31
Fife	1	103
Forth Valley	2	231
Grampian	1	34
Greater Glasgow	3	1131
Lanarkshire	1	178
Lothian	1	45
Scotland	11	34

Source: ISD Scotland.

Notes:1. Median waiting time.

The Scottish Executive is working closely with the Trust and the health board to ensure that a robust recovery plan is produced, which will ensure that high quality patient care continues to be delivered within a sustainable financial framework.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including additional tobacco taxes. The Executive will receive Barnett formula consequentials of increased health spending funded by additional tobacco taxes.

I have established a Working Group to produce good practice guidance on the administration of medicines in schools which will address these issues. The Epilepsy Association of Scotland is represented on the Group.