Chamber and committees

We have no current plans to introduce such a publicity campaign.

The leaflet HCS 2 A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs provides information on charges and optical voucher values, including examples of NHS dental charges. Dentists providing NHS general dental services should display copies of this leaflet. It is also available at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/healthcosts.

The leaflet HCS 2 A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs provides information on charges and optical voucher values, including the maximum patient charge for a single course of NHS dental treatment. Dentists providing NHS general dental services should display copies of this leaflet. It is also available at www.scotland.gov.uk/healthcosts.

We will issue guidance to dentists reminding them of the need to display copies of the HCS 2 leaflet and also reminding them of the need to advise patients of the maximum charge arrangements, where appropriate.

Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with ministers occur regularly in the normal course of business.

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm

There are no plans to change current council tax regulations which already allow entitlement to discounts for people with a severe mental health problem in receipt of qualifying benefits.

These documents are currently being finalised and should be available shortly.

Responses to a consultation undertaken by the Scottish Government on behalf of the Community Council Work Group (CCWG) showed that there is substantial support from both local authorities and community councils for a Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of Conduct for Community Councillors.

The Scottish Government, along with key partners, will promote and encourage the adoption of the finalised documents by all Scottish local authorities. It is recognised that if the Model Scheme is adopted by local authorities it will allow for more consistency and parity throughout Scotland whilst at the same time allowing individual local circumstances to be reflected.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role, within the wider community empowerment agenda, that community councils can play in local life. Adoption of these documents will also give every community council in Scotland the opportunity to build their capacity and to engage more effectively with their local authority as well as the community that they represent.

The review was launched and published on the NHS Health Scotland website on 24 February 2009.

I can confirm that we have today published our response to the consultation on alcohol misuse: Changing Scotland''s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action, on the Scottish Government website. Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47805.) The framework sets out a package of measures to rebalance Scotland''s relationship with alcohol, reduce alcohol-related harm and contribute to a successful and flourishing Scotland. Some are specific legislative measures designed to effect change in the short-term. Many others focus on creating cultural change over a much longer period. Together these actions can and should begin to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of people in Scotland, to our economy and to our communities.

No application has been received from Falkirk Council. We are currently working on the details of the Fund, and will shortly be entering into discussions with stakeholders. We anticipate full details of the scheme will be announced by the end of March 2009.

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0226-01.htm