Chamber and committees

We intend to publish a set of proposals for comment in the form of a Consultation Paper at the end of April.

There is a wealth of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism and as such there are no plans to undertake any further research in this area. The Scottish Government and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have however taken forward a jointly funded research programme in relation to autism, based on the agenda outlined in the MRC Review of Autism Research. The MRC has now committed over £3 million to new research. The awards range from clinical investigations in children and adults, to environmental risk factors, brain imaging and intervention studies. The Chief Scientist Office has also funded a number of studies into autism.

The Scottish Government and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have taken forward a jointly funded research programme in relation to autism, based on the agenda outlined in the MRC review of autism research. The MRC has now committed over £3 million to new research. The awards range from clinical investigations in children and adults, to environmental risk factors, brain imaging and intervention studies. The Chief Scientist Office has also funded a number of studies into autism.

No research is currently planned on the explicit issue of levels of mitochondrial dysfunction in the autism population in Scotland. However, the Chief Scientist Office is open to proposals for further studies.

The details of the judgement in this case are sealed and much of what is being publicly suggested is speculation. What is known is that the child in question has an extremely rare genetic metabolic condition and as part of her neurological signs and symptoms, she has autistic-like features. There is a wealth of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism and the circumstances of this case do not change that conclusion.

The childhood immunisation programme in Scotland does not offer single vaccines routinely and there are no plans to change this policy. Offering single vaccines, with time lags of a month or more between the three, would leave a child at risk from mumps, measles or rubella. This also has an impact upon herd immunity (where vaccination of a proportion of the population provides protection to unvaccinated individuals) and may mean those children that cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons would be at increased risk of the disease.

The combined MMR vaccine has been in use for a period of nearly 30 years, with over 500 million doses given in over 100 countries. Based on the findings from the on-going monitoring of its safety, and the evidence from the wide range of scientific investigations into the speculated risks to health, the vaccine has an excellent safety record.

The details of the judgement in this case are sealed and much of what is being publicly suggested is speculation. What is known is that the child in question has an extremely rare genetic metabolic condition and as part of her neurological signs and symptoms, she has autistic-like features. At the same time there is a wealth of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism. Therefore there are no plans to take any steps to screen out all children with mitochondrial dysfunction from the routine childhood vaccination programme.

Applications for the positions of chair and board members of Skills Development Scotland are currently being considered. I expect to announce the appointment of Chair of Skills Development Scotland in April and the board members thereafter.

I have appointed an interim Chief Executive for Skills Development Scotland and intend to advertise the substantive role in the near future. The substantive Chief Executive will be appointed following an appropriate recruitment and selection process.

Skills Development Scotland will set out its vision statement and business principles when it publishes its operating plan for 2008-09.

Skills Development Scotland was registered as The Skills Development Scotland Co. Limited on 20 December 2007.