SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote a regional and strategic approach to housing provision which transcends local authority boundaries. (S1O-2926)
In order to address housing needs, an approach that crosses administrative boundaries is often required. The Housing (Scotland) Bill will allow two or more local authorities to work together to draw up local housing strategies that reflect the cross-border dimension. Those strategies will be supported by regional housing context statements, produced by the executive agency that will take on the functions transferred from Scottish Homes to Scottish ministers.
Is the minister aware that on one of his recent visits to Dundee, the First Minister was treated to a slide show, one slide of which showed no fewer than 17 new housing developments just across the local government boundaries in Perth and Kinross and Angus, all of which are deliberately located to lure workers in Dundee out of the city into lower council tax areas, thereby compounding the city's financial problems? Will she join me in condemning that beggar-my-neighbour approach to housing provision by some councils, and will she assure the Parliament that through Scottish Homes she will seek to promote a balanced regional and strategic approach to housing provision, which will benefit all local authorities in the area?
Mr McAllion will appreciate that I was not aware of the slide show, but I take on board the points that he made. Situations such as those to which he referred are the reason why we are taking powers in the Housing (Scotland) Bill to ensure that we have a strategic approach to housing need and that we meet all forms of housing need, so that local authorities work together to ensure that the needs of the poorest, and all others, in the community are met.
Having stated in the chamber this morning that central Scotland's local authorities have failed in municipal housing provision, does the Scottish Executive agree that in order to make strategic plans work, there must be firm implementation plans? Will the Scottish Executive pay for them, monitor them stringently and review them regularly?
That is a value-based interpretation of this morning's events. I did not say that municipal housing was a failure. We are moving into a new generation to maintain new patterns of investment. It will not be a surprise to Linda Fabiani that in the Executive we are determined to work in partnership with local authorities, which we intend to do through our housing strategies, so that housing need can be met.
visitscotland
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the appointment of the new chief executive of visitscotland. (S1O-2949)
Visitscotland tells me that the post has generated worldwide interest from many high-quality candidates and that it is now in the final stages of the selection process.
Given the decline in visitor numbers, and yet the substantial increase in visitors to Scotland through low-cost carriers, will the minister direct the incoming chief executive, when he or she is appointed, to consider funding the promotion and marketing of low-cost carriers into Scotland from foreign destinations?
Indeed, international air links are important for Scotland. We are funding visitscotland at record levels this year. Last week, I was pleased to announce an increase in the finance for its international marketing campaign.
Given that one of the priorities of visitscotland ought to be to encourage people from other countries to visit this country, is the minister concerned about the damage that might have been done to Scotland's stature by the precipitate cancellation of the visit by the Irish Prime Minister?
No comment.
Railways
I ask the chamber to note my registered interests with regard to two rail unions.
The Scottish Executive has committed nearly £50 million to 21 rail-related projects under the public transport fund and the freight facilities grants scheme. Later this year we will give directions and guidance to the strategic rail authority on the letting of a new Scottish passenger rail franchise. We intend to deliver major benefits for passengers over the next 15 to 20 years.
Following the consultation process on strategic priorities in Scotland's railways and any bids to the public transport fund, I ask that due consideration be given to improving capacity on congested lines such as that from Bathgate to Edinburgh, which runs through my constituency. I also ask that due consideration be given to any formal proposals to extend that line to Airdrie.
Bristow Muldoon is right to say that tackling congestion and giving people high-quality alternatives to traffic jams are priorities for the public transport fund and are key issues that we highlighted in the consultation document. We will carefully consider opportunities to implement schemes such as those that Bristow Muldoon suggested, if they meet our value for money priorities.
Was Professor David Begg correct when he said earlier this week that expenditure on transport in Scotland over the next three years will be less than half that planned for England? Is he correct that that fact and the fact that England has a 10-year transport plan while Scotland has none mean that we will lose out? Will the minister tell us when she intends to improve the rail lines in the west Highlands and the Borders and the east coast main line? Will she perform like her budget—below the level required?
I will answer in line with the Presiding Officer's request that we be brief. The new Scottish rail passenger franchise gives us the opportunity to improve our railways in Scotland for the next decade and beyond. We will use our work with the strategic rail authority to ensure that Scotland's priorities fit in with the UK's overall priorities for improving our rail network with John Prescott's £60 billion of investment.
Is the minister aware of concerns that the consultation paper on the passenger franchise lacks any project-specific proposals? Will she advise Parliament what key expansions and enhancements to the network the Executive will suggest that the strategic rail authority uses in evaluating bids for the next passenger franchise?
As Mr Tosh is well aware, the consultation does not include specific priorities. Its purpose is to ensure that we have established the right global priorities in tackling congestion and boosting our rural communities with viable rail services. When we have done that and set our key priorities, we will consider individual projects. We spend £200 million a year on rail projects for the franchise in Scotland. We want to see how much value for money we can get from new extensions in a 15 to 20-year rail franchise. We will consider individual projects after we have completed the consultation.
The minister's aims are laudable, but does she accept that the operation of Railtrack is an important part of the equation? For instance, the failure to maintain snow fences at Kinbrace in recent years may have led to the train getting stuck in a snowdrift in my constituency. Will the minister undertake to meet Railtrack and ensure that it honours its part of the bargain?
I meet Railtrack regularly and will raise the point that Jamie Stone made when I see Janette Anderson next week.
NHS Trusts (Debt)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current total level is of debt accumulated by all national health service trusts. (S1O-2945)
Since the abolition of the internal market, NHS trusts' financing has been provided through public dividend capital, not debt.
It has been widely reported that the total outstanding debts of the health trusts in Scotland could be as high as £150 million. Will the minister give us a categoric assurance that that is not the case and that any deficit will have no impact on already overstretched services to patients?
As I indicated in my answer, since the abolition of the internal market, NHS trusts have not been financed through debt. Therefore, I am bound to say that Shona Robison's use of the term was inaccurate in her original question, and again in her supplementary question.
Will the minister give an estimate of the likely impact on trust deficits—and on trusts that have recovery plans—of the increases in junior hospital doctors' pay? Does she agree with one estimate made by the chief executive of an acute trust that the figure could be as much as £80 million by the end of next year?
The estimate given by trusts for the cost of the new junior doctors' contract is £20 million. That figure is due to be reduced, as trusts act to reduce junior doctors' hours, which is a core incentive built into the contract. It is important that every organisation addresses priorities within the resources allocated to it. I am glad that there are additional resources within the national health service to meet such priorities. However, I am sure we all agree that it is right that we should work to reduce junior doctors' hours, for the sake of the doctors and to enhance patient safety.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and what issues were discussed. (S1O-2946)
At lunch time, we discussed structure funds.
I thank the minister for his brief answer.
That is enough—let us have the answer. [Interruption.] Order. I warn members not to go on speaking once I have cut them off.
We do not plan to have any discussions on those matters. Such discussions are for Glasgow City Council and COSLA. However, I was interested to note at the beginning of the week that the leader of Glasgow City Council indicated that he thought he could bring in a budget on the basis of the grant settlement—which would give a tax rise well below the rate of inflation for the third year running—to improve education services, to improve social care services and to improve environmental services, while making minor adjustments in efficiency gains. That is real progress—I wish that the Scottish National Party would welcome it.
Is not the minister concerned that the loss of Glasgow's revenue will destabilise COSLA, and will cause all sorts of difficulties with regard to national wage negotiations and other matters that have to be based on national settlements? Does he agree that the matter is causing severe friction between his colleagues at Glasgow City Council, members of the Executive and members of other Labour-controlled local authorities?
Scotland has benefited enormously over the past several years from a united local government association. Evidence from other countries in the United Kingdom where that is not the case indicates the benefits that Scotland has derived from that. It is a matter of personal regret that Glasgow has withdrawn. None the less, that is its decision, and the Executive has no part in discussing the matter with the council or with COSLA.
Does the minister share my regret that Glasgow has decided to withdraw from COSLA? Does he also share my regret that the SNP continues to present the case for more money for Glasgow, without giving any indication of where that money would come from?
I regret that Glasgow has withdrawn. As was revealed in yesterday's debate on the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2001, the SNP has no ideas whatever about how it would improve the financing of local government. It certainly did not reveal where the extra money would come from.
Information and Communications Technology
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that information and communications technology reaches disadvantaged communities. (S1O-2904)
We are committed to achieving universal access to the internet by 2005. Last month, the Deputy Minister for Social Justice announced an additional £3 million, specifically to support digital inclusion in some of our more hard-pressed communities over the next three years.
I am grateful to the minister for that response. Given the prominence given to the use of digital technology in the strategy document that we debated last week, will she ensure that Scottish Enterprise puts forward clear targets for assisting business—especially new and small businesses—in less advantaged parts of Scotland with their take-up of information and communications technology? Will she also ensure that performance in that respect is closely monitored?
Scottish Enterprise is committed to extending its role in the e-commerce field and I am glad to confirm that Clydebank, in the member's constituency, will shortly benefit from a digital champion, and from support for the whole community—not just local businesses—to be on the net.
Is the minister aware that under the previous Tory Government, an area of priority treatment was created in north Ayr? Much of the emphasis was placed on information and communications technology training and involvement with business. Would the minister care to come to north Ayr and consider for herself the effectiveness of the money that was spent?
I expect to be in Ayrshire shortly. It is, however, a great tragedy that Mr Michael Portillo has suggested that Department of Trade and Industry support for matters such as information technology should be cut by more than £400 million on a UK basis.
Is not it clear that the most advanced telecommunications technologies, such as ADSL, will not be available in many areas if provision is simply left to market forces? When will the Government make a decision on whether to intervene in that area?
As I hope the Opposition knows, we met the telecoms companies this week. Ensuring the availability of broadband capability across Scotland is, of course, critical. We will not second-guess the companies by specifying whether that should be by ADSL, or wireless, or indeed by satellite. The choice of technology should be left to the companies.
Scottish Arts Council
To ask the Scottish Executive what process it is undertaking to seek public views on the appointment of a new chair of the Scottish Arts Council. (S1O-2921)
The selection process has been handled in accordance with guidance from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
I think that that is the first time that I have had a substantive answer to a question, which is surprising. I congratulate Mr Boyle, but would not it have been far better had the process been handled such that the public, the artistic community and, in fact, the whole of Scotland could have been involved, rather than just the minister?
I was elected by the people of Scotland to take decisions on their behalf. I can see why the nationalists never want to take decisions; when they do, they always get them wrong.
National Health Service
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer by Susan Deacon to question S1O-2781 on 18 January 2001, whether it will provide further resources to assist regional NHS in Scotland facilities such as those in Glasgow royal infirmary. (S1O-2940)
The Scottish Executive distributes resources to health boards on the basis of a Scotland-wide formula that reflects the health needs of their local populations. It is primarily for NHS bodies locally to determine how to apply those allocations to meet national and local priorities. "Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change", published on 14 December, sets out how the Executive intends to simplify the funding of specialist hospital services that are provided to more than one NHS health board area.
I welcome what the minister has said to date about recognising that health services are delivered beyond health board boundaries. Is she aware that the digestive diseases unit in Glasgow royal infirmary takes more than 50 per cent of its patients from outwith its health board boundary because of the expertise developed there, and that that puts added pressure on intensive care beds and on imaging services?
It is crucial that, where there are specialist hospital services that serve populations other than within their own health board boundaries, as in the case that Pauline McNeill has cited and in many others, effective mechanisms are in place to ensure that resources flow correctly. That is precisely why we are continuing to improve the financial arrangements and doing away with some of the more cumbersome systems from the previous internal market to ensure that that happens.
The minister said that funding is based on a Scotland-wide formula. I presume that she is aware that health boards do not retain all of their capital receipts. I also presume—perhaps I presume too much—that she has received details of the case put forward by North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Please ask a question.
The question is this: the trust has said that it wants to keep all of its capital receipts from the sale of hospitals. Will the minister give a categoric assurance that health boards will retain all capital receipts so that they can be reinvested? Will that apply to Glasgow royal infirmary, which is, as doctors have said, sinking like the Titanic?
Each case is dealt with on its merits. The overall issue of capital receipts is part of the wider review of financial systems that we are currently undertaking to continue to make further improvements.
Housing Stock Transfer
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the views of tenants are considered in stock transfer proposals. (S1O-2918)
Last month, the Scottish Executive published the "Code of Practice for Tenant Participation in Stock Transfers", which sets out a framework for tenant participation throughout the transfer process. Ultimately, transfer will proceed only if tenants vote for it in a secret ballot.
I welcome that announcement and the code of practice. Does the minister agree that it is important that we continue to consult tenants to ensure that they shape and inform transfer proposals? More important, does she agree that it is tenants, not politicians—or self-appointed tenant leaders—who will have the final decision?
I strongly agree with that. In Glasgow in the past few months, there has been enormous involvement in such issues on the part of tenants. I strongly welcome that. The Executive emphasises that tenants need to be at the heart of the process. We are getting the process right, will go on to win the prize and will get housing investment improved in Glasgow.
Does the minister agree that the £13 million that has been spent on developing the proposals could have delivered 5,000 central heating systems and double glazing for 2,500 homes? Is not it about time that the Government started to invest in front-line housing services, rather than consulting tenants about something which at the end of the day is Hobson's choice?
That is an interesting departure from SNP policy. I said this morning that I look forward to revisiting the SNP's housing policy. It is surely needed. Does that mean that the SNP is no longer committed to tenant consultation? We cannot say that we are and then not resource it properly. In Glasgow, we are getting the information right to allow tenants to be involved and to make democratic choices. That is the future for Glasgow and for Glasgow's tenants and it lies best in the hands of the Executive, not in the hands of members of the SNP, who change their policy on the matter day by day.
Elderly People (Abuse)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether elderly people are safe from abuse in institutions. (S1O-2924)
The Scottish Executive is determined to ensure that older people, whether at home or in care homes, are protected from abuse. To achieve that, the Executive is taking a number of measures, including developing new care standards and setting up a new commission to regulate care services and a council to regulate the social services work force. The introduction of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 will also introduce new protection for the most vulnerable people.
Is the minister aware that the action on elder abuse helpline, which has revealed that 26 per cent of perpetrators are paid workers, is underused in Scotland and requires additional funding to publicise its service? Will he give the chamber and elderly people his assurance that he will use his best endeavours to secure that funding, so that the elderly, frail and frightened will know that they have somewhere and someone to turn to?
The helpline is one issue that can be taken into account when we consider the new complaints procedure as part of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill. We are determined, through the bill, to drive up the quality of long-term and other forms of care, which is why we are introducing a system with more independence, more consistency and more user focus. That will include a better complaints procedure and, for the first time, inspection against national standards of medication procedures and a range of other issues.
National Health Service (Statistics)
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it is making to hold more NHS statistics centrally and which subjects are currently under consideration in this connection. (S1O-2905)
A wide range of information is currently held centrally on the national health service in Scotland. That includes information about the number of patients with different conditions, the treatment provided, clinical outcomes, NHS staffing levels and financial information. Such information is used to meet the needs of clinicians and managers in the NHS and to ensure accountability to Parliament and to the public. Information held centrally is reviewed regularly to ensure that it meets the needs of all users.
While I welcome the minister's constructive reply, does he accept that making more information available about specific illnesses can help with the prevention and treatment of illness? Will he keep the matter under continual review, with a view to making more information accessible all the time?
As I indicated, the matter is under review. Work on several health topics is under review at the information and statistics division. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton is right that there is a potential impact on prevention and treatment; that is clearly one of the criteria that must be used when we decide what information to hold centrally. At the same time, a balance must be struck as there are cost implications, and if too much work is done on collecting statistics, it could be a burden on the NHS. The general point that Lord James Douglas-Hamilton makes is correct.
How aware is the minister of the great concern felt by patients about the risks of contracting hospital-acquired infections? As it is a national problem, will he ensure that detailed information on that is available and held nationally?
We recognise that it is a national problem; that is why we have said that we want a national solution, which is clearly outlined in "Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change", which was published in December.
Universities (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to reconsider its proposals to amend its distribution of funding in view of the impact on newer universities. (S1O-2909)
The current consultation will not conclude until the end of March. I expect the council to take account of the views of those responding to the consultation exercise before producing its final proposals.
Will the minister investigate why the consultants who were employed by the SHEFC to collate the views of people in Scotland on the issue were sacked two thirds of the way through the exercise, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds to taxpayers? Will she also investigate why those consultants—and the expert group that the council set up to oversee the operation, which also had its task terminated—have since dissociated themselves from the proposals?
My officials have been in touch with the SHEFC on those matters. I have met both the Association of University Teachers and Universities Scotland over the past few days and have discussed those matters.
Will the Executive consider changes to the remits of the SHEFC and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council to facilitate joint funding of courses provided by higher and further education establishments working in partnership?
I will be happy to write to Dr Murray on that matter.
Death Certification
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current procedure for certifying the cause of death prior to the disposal of mortal remains by cremation is adequate. (S1O-2903)
The current procedure for certifying the cause of death prior to cremation is set out in the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 1935.
I thank the minister for her helpful reply.
I am unfamiliar with the details of the case from which Annabel Goldie quotes; I am more than happy to look into it and will write formally on it.
Question 14 has been withdrawn.
Organ Removal
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will make to the report of the McLean review group on the removal of organs from dead patients. (S1O-2927)
The Executive's response was announced on 6 February, which is the day when the report was published. We are now taking forward a significant programme of measures to improve communication and consent procedures and to change the culture. We are backing that with major changes to the law.
Although I welcome the minister's assurance that the organs of dead children will never again be removed without their parents' consent, will she take steps to ensure that the legitimate public outrage over the removal of children's organs without parents' consent will not discourage people from registering to donate their own organs, especially in view of the current shortage of donor organs that could save other people's lives?
Dennis Canavan raises an important point that is a matter of concern to me, the NHS and the medical profession more generally. I am very pleased that bereaved parents have been firm in saying that the cases involving organ retention should not and must not have an adverse effect on organ donation or medical research. I hope that, in light of the report that was published this week and the work that we are taking forward in response to it, we will be able to make progress on this whole issue to ensure that future arrangements are effective on every front.
I thank the minister for her response and her statement earlier this week on this very sensitive and difficult issue. However, will she investigate the case of my constituent Mr Howard Brown, with whose details she might be familiar? Unlike many of the other unfortunate parents, who were not even consulted when their children had their organs removed by pathologists after they had died, Mr Brown made his views known and told the hospital that he did not want a post mortem or his children's organs removed. However, his wishes on the matter were either ignored or overruled.
I am familiar with Mr Brown's case and his particular concerns, not least because of his religious convictions and the additional hurt that was caused by the fact that those convictions were not taken into account. I am meeting him shortly to discuss those issues. I very much hope that the measures introduced this week will result in all parents and relatives being more fully involved in receiving information and communicating, and that the consent procedures will be far more effective and stronger than before to ensure that past practice will not be repeated in Scotland.
Will the minister join me in paying tribute to all the relatives who have been affected by the practice of organ removal without consent? More than any other factor, their determination to get answers led to this week's publication of the McLean report. Furthermore, will the minister also assure me that legislation that will make informed consent necessary in future will be introduced without delay, to ensure that a practice that has caused so much distress to so many people can never happen again?
I announced last week—and confirmed again this week—that we are immediately moving forward with changes to the Human Tissues Act 1961 which will mean that the current provision, whereby doctors are required only to establish the absence of objection to organ removal, is replaced with a requirement to seek informed consent. We are taking those measures forward and will certainly ensure that legal changes are also matched by culture changes and changes to practice in future.
Young People (Health)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase awareness and treatment of conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis—or ME—particularly among young people. (S1O-2935)
"Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change" commits the Scottish Executive and the national health service to take steps to work closely with patient support groups to ensure that the needs of those with chronic conditions are met effectively. In the case of CFS/ME, the Executive will consider the issue of good practice guidelines on treatment, taking account of advice, which is expected later this year, from the working group set up by the chief medical officer in England.
Is the minister aware that CFS and ME officially do not exist among young people, particularly on the east coast of Scotland, as general practitioners and consultants seem reluctant to recognise the conditions? As thousands of schoolchildren are incapacitated to varying degrees by CFS and ME, will the minister look into providing a specialist NHS unit in Scotland to investigate those debilitating conditions? That would bring not only hope to the many sufferers, but considerable savings to the NHS.
There is great controversy in the medical profession about the illness. Whatever the causes of the illness, we all recognise that it is serious and causes great distress and pain to the sufferers. The member's question will be answered to some extent once we have worked on the good practice guidelines later in the year. We recognise that a better framework is needed for the condition. That is why we are waiting to see what guidelines emerge in England; we will take account of those guidelines when we draw up our own.
I hark back to a previous question about the collection of national statistics. I am informed that 30 per cent of people diagnosed as having ME are rediagnosed as having hepatitis C. Is the minister aware of that? Does he agree that it is conclusive proof that we need much more sensitive central collection of health statistics in Scotland for the self-management of many such conditions?
Margo MacDonald raises two issues. The first, to which I gave an answer in response to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton's question, is about statistics. The second concerns the diagnosis of the condition. The issue is complicated and I do not want to tread on controversial medical ground. I have stated the importance that we attach to making progress on ME and I made a similar announcement in a recent debate on hepatitis C. We want to take action on the two serious conditions to which she refers, but it is difficult for us to have a debate on them because of the complexities and controversies involved.
Beta Interferon
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Health Technology Board for Scotland will report on its findings regarding the clinical efficacy of beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. (S1O-2911)
The Health Technology Board for Scotland is unlikely to be in a position to report on beta interferon until September at the earliest. Today I arranged for a report on the board's progress to be placed in the Scottish Parliament information centre.
I thank the minister for her answer. Does she agree that the extremely long delay in the publication of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence report, which will feed into the Health Technology Board for Scotland report, is causing a great deal of stress for patients who are suffering from multiple sclerosis and for their families? Will she assure the Parliament that she will make every possible effort to expedite those reports?
Janis Hughes correctly points out that the publication of the HTBS information has been delayed primarily because of delays to the NICE advice. Those delays are due to on-going appeals. I share her concern and want to ensure that advice is received as soon as possible. However, I stress the fact that the HTBS operates independently from the Executive—that is its role—and I would not want to interfere with its assessment process.
Question 18 has been withdrawn.
Warrant Sales
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in finding an alternative to warrant sales. (S1O-2920)
The working group that was set up by the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice to identify a workable and humane replacement to poindings and warrant sales is making good progress and is on track to report with its recommendations in June. Information about the group and its work can be found in a progress report that has been placed on a new website, which was launched by Scottish Executive ministers on 26 January. The internet address of that website is available from SPICe.
I thank the minister for his response. Does he agree that, in seeking a replacement to warrant sales, full consideration should be given to preventing as many people as possible from becoming bogged down in debt and that the Scottish Executive must ensure that debt advice services are widely and easily accessible, especially in our most deprived communities?
Karen Whitefield has raised one of the most important aspects of the work of the working group, which has focused no small part of its discussion on the important need to ensure that we put in place a comprehensive network of debt counselling and support. That will help to ensure that families and individuals do not get into debt in the first place and have some capacity to manage their financial position rather than falling prey either to the mechanics of the current system or, once the current system is abolished, to whatever new system replaces it and whatever methods are used by various creditors to try to secure their debts. It is equally important, of course, that we ensure that creditors feel confident that they can recover debts where appropriate. If we do not do that, current difficulties will continue to mushroom—the use of extreme collection methods has grown since news of the decision to abolish poinding and sale reached such prominence and people began to fear that there would be no alternative method for recovering debt.
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