Chamber and committees

Recommended intakes to primary and secondary courses of more than one year set by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) for academic session 2000-01

Institution	Primary	Secondary
	BEd	Bed	Combined Degree
University of Edinburgh	139	109
University of Glasgow	140	34	32
Northern College of Education	169	27	15
University of Paisley	84
University of Stirling			115
University of Strathclyde	169		30
Total	701	170	192

There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs and therefore no training places allocated. A qualification in teaching children with special educational needs is an extension of the professional development of a teacher and is undertaken as in-service training.The above information will appear in the next edition of the Supply of Teachers report. Information for 2001-02 is not yet available. However, this will also be included in the Supply of Teachers report in due course.

Recommended intakes to primary and secondary initial teacher education courses set by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) for academic session 2000-01:

Institution	Primary	Secondary
University of Edinburgh	202	293
University of Glasgow	215	231
Northern College of Education	241	217
University of Paisley	114	60
University of Stirling		115
University of Strathclyde	245	446
Total	1017	1362

There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs and therefore no training places allocated. A qualification in teaching children with special educational needs is an extension of the professional development of a teacher and is undertaken as in-service training.The above information will appear in the next edition of the Supply of Teachers report (Vol. 1, January 2001). Information for 2001-02 is not yet available. However, this will also be included in the Supply of Teachers report in due course.

Recommended intakes to primary and secondary postgraduate certificate in education courses set by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) for academic session 2000-01:

Institution	Postgraduate Certificate in Education
	Primary	Secondary
University of Edinburgh	63	184
University of Glasgow	75	165
Northern College of Education	72	175
University of Paisley	30	60
University of Strathclyde	76	416
Total	316	1000

There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs and therefore no training places allocated. A qualification in teaching children with special educational needs is an extension of the professional development of a teacher and is undertaken as in-service training.The above information will appear in the next edition of the Supply of Teachers report. Information for 2001-02 is not yet available. However, this will also be included in the Supply of Teachers report in due course.

Information provided in response to question S1W-11657 relates to numbers of laboratory isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) over the last five years. MRSA is one of the causes of hospital-acquired infection (HAI).

Preventing and controlling HAI, including infections attributable to MRSA, is a key priority for the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, published in December last year, makes clear that every local healthcare system is expected to combat HAI by achieving service standards to be established by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland on infection control, cleanliness and other matters.

Comprehensive guidance on infection control in hospitals - the Scottish Infection Manual - was issued by the Scottish Office Health Department in 1998. It recommends that Infection Control Teams should be in place in every NHS Trust. Infection control teams are responsible for ensuring that action is taken to reduce the risk of HAI, and for investigating and recommending action on incidences of hospital-acquired infection, within the overall Trust policy on infection control.It is for each NHS Trust to ensure that guidance and standards are applied effectively. Following the implementation of standards in the area of infection control within the NHS, compliance with these standards will be independently assessed under the guidance of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland.

The impact of the recent rise in the price of domestic fuel oil has to be taken together with the effect of UK Government policy in promoting competition in the regulated energy sector, which has resulted in reductions in gas and electricity prices over the past decade.The policy areas mentioned in the question are however all devolved, and the impact on them of recent oil price rises is therefore a matter for the Scottish Executive. The issue is one that requires a co-ordinated response, and in respect of fuel poverty for instance, the Scottish Executive has been working with the other devolved administrations, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions to achieve such an response.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-03251 on 5 April.

Initially concerns were expressed about the availability of approved disinfectants in some parts of Scotland. This prompted suppliers to publicise the availability of particular products and to inform the Scottish Executive. My officials have liaised very closely with the National Farmers Union of Scotland, who have disseminated information about local availability to their members. Similar information is also contained on the Scottish Executive website and is updated regularly.I am not aware of any shortage of disinfectant in Dumfries and Galloway, but should that occur, my officials stand ready to help resolve matters.

For 2001-02, the units of teaching resource allocated by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for education are:

Funding subject group	Unit
BEd Music; BEd Technology	£6,374
BEd Physical Education; PGCE	£6,216
BEd Primary	£5,514

There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs. Gaelic-medium is not a separately identified subject funding group.

We recognise the Catholic Education Commission's wish for an additional Catholic dimension to the Scottish Qualification for Headship and are discussing this with the Catholic Education Commission and the Higher Education Institutes.

Scottish Opera will receive an additional £1.9 million this year and £1 million in each of the next three years.