Chamber and committees

In the year ending 31 March 1999, the provisional figure for the number of people who died while on a waiting list for cardiac surgery is 67. Because the data do not include cause of death, it cannot be assumed that death was due in every case to coronary heart disease. The Coronary Heart Disease Task Force is satisfied that arrangements are in place for the active management of patients on cardiac surgery waiting lists.The issue of deaths on the waiting list for cardiac surgery was highlighted in the report of the Acute Services Review, which took it as an indication that the aim should be to treat disease at a less advanced stage and minimise delays that were leading to avoidable illness and death. That is why the Scottish Executive considers it important to establish national waiting times for this clinical priority.

Had Glasgow received the average increase in Aggregate External Finance in the provisional allocations announced on 15 December its allocation would have increased by £21.0m over the current year. The final AEF figures for 2000-01, including the allocation of £15 million additional for policy priorities, will be announced in the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2000 next month.Had Glasgow's expenditure guideline for 2000-01 increased compared with its current guideline in line with the Scottish average, it would have increased by £34.5 million. The City Council's actual guideline allows for it to increase spending over its budgeted expenditure for the current year by £41.4 million. Allocations from the Special Deprivation Payment (from which Glasgow will receive £3 million) and the £15 million still to be allocated have been disregarded for the purposes of calculating councils' spending guidelines.

Greater Glasgow Health Board, the North and South Acute Trusts, the Primary Care Trust and Yorkhill have been asked to draw up and agree financial plans which will minimise disruption to patient services and staff whilst achieving financial stability.

In the current financial year, the Scottish Executive has committed revenue funding for hospital and community health services of £791.5 million to Greater Glasgow, 4.25% more than last year's general allocation. My recent announcement of allocations for 2000-01 confirms that Greater Glasgow will receive a further 5% increase in its general allocation next year.I expect all NHS Trusts, including those in Glasgow to manage effectively the resources they receive from Health Boards to provide health services.My officials are working with the senior management of the Glasgow Trusts and Greater Glasgow Health Board to ensure that financial balance is achieved as soon as possible while continuing to provide high quality care.

In the current financial year, the Scottish Executive has committed revenue funding for hospital and community health services of £791.5 million to Greater Glasgow, 4.25% more than last year's general allocation. My recent announcement of allocations for 2000-01 confirms that Greater Glasgow will receive a further 5% increase in its general allocation next year.

I expect all NHS Trusts, including those in Glasgow, to manage effectively the resources they receive from Health Boards to provide health services.

My officials are working with the senior management of the Glasgow Trusts and Greater Glasgow Health Board to ensure that financial balance is achieved as soon as possible while continuing to provide high quality care.In preparing their plans I expect the Trusts to continue to provide high quality patient care and to take full account of their effects on staff.

In the current financial year, the Scottish Executive has committed revenue funding for hospital and community health services of £791.5 million to Greater Glasgow, 4.25% more than last year's general allocation.

The Glasgow NHS Trusts have informed the Scottish Executive that they face a wide range of financial pressures, like every NHS Trust in Scotland. I expect the Trusts to manage effectively the resources they receive from Health Boards to provide health services.My officials are working with the senior management of the Glasgow Trusts and Greater Glasgow Health Board to ensure that financial balance is achieved as soon as possible while continuing to provide high quality care.

Responsibility for traffic management on local roads and for local road traffic reduction measures rests with the relevant local authority.

The study suggests that patients with coronary heart disease in the most severe deprivation categories waited about 3 weeks longer for routine cardiac surgery than did patients in the most affluent category. The main reason quoted was that those in the most affluent category were more likely to be classified as urgent cases.One of our key aims in the Programme for Government is to eliminate inequalities of treatment. The Coronary Heart Disease Task Force has been investigating the management of patients on the cardiac surgery waiting list. It has devised a common referral letter and a standard approach to the categorisation of those patients, based on clinical factors. Implementation of these initiatives, together with the establishment of a national waiting time for this priority area, will help ensure that time the key determinant for priority of treatment is clinical need.

Following the recent publication of the Performance Indicators report for the whole of the UK higher education sector, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council are currently reviewing the figures, including those for non-completion, with a view to taking steps and will liaise with the Executive in this regard. A full copy of the Performance Indicators in Higher Education 1996-97, 1997-98 report is available through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Five forces were involved in the operation to police the Scotland against England football match on Saturday 13 November. The operation lasted from Friday 12 November through to Sunday 14 November and the costs incurred were:

£
Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary	6,500
Fife Constabulary	1,000
Lothian & Borders Police	20,000
Strathclyde Police	300,000
Tayside Police	2,500
Total	330,000

Approximately £60,000 will be recovered from the Scottish Football Association by Strathclyde Police, under the normal charges for the services of police officers at football matches. The balance will be met from forces' operational budgets for the current year.