Plenary, 08 Jun 2006

Meeting date: Thursday, June 8, 2006

Official Report 746KB pdf

---

Question Time

---

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

---

Environment and Rural Development

Questions 1 and 2 have not been lodged.

---

Diversion from Landfill

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to the contribution of incineration or energy from waste to diversion from landfill. (S2O-10149)

The national waste plan outlined a requirement to recover energy from around 14 per cent of municipal waste in order to meet landfill diversion targets by 2020. That could be achieved using a range of different technologies.

Does the minister agree that energy from waste is at the bottom of the waste hierarchy, only marginally above landfill? Therefore, in assessing applications for grants under the strategic waste fund, will he downgrade those applications that are heavily dependent on incineration?

I agree with the general proposition, as I do not regard incineration as being much above the landfill option. The national waste plan makes it clear that the incineration of waste without the recovery of energy is not a viable option and that energy from waste can play a role only after recyclable materials have been extracted, in so far as that is reasonably practicable. The guidance also confirms that energy from waste must form part of an integrated waste management strategy, including waste prevention, reuse, biological treatment, recycling and landfill. Given that guidance, I share a degree of disappointment at the nature and content of some of the submissions that are made to us. We will apply the criteria in assessing the bids that are before us.

The minister will be aware how controversial landfill sites are with local communities, especially because of the negative environmental impact that they can have. There is such a case in my constituency, near Abernethy, with the Binn farm landfill site. Does he agree that, until successful diversion schemes are in place, the regulatory role of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is absolutely vital? Does he, therefore, share my concern at the apparent reluctance of SEPA to act when there are repeated infractions, as in the case of the aforementioned landfill site?

I agree that SEPA has a crucial role to play. In my experience, it is unusual for SEPA not to use its powers. I am sure that other members in the chamber would attest to a rather overzealous approach by SEPA and perhaps regard this as a welcome counterbalance to that. Nevertheless, the point that Roseanna Cunningham makes is a serious one, and if what she says is the case I would be happy to receive any representations that she wants to make on the matter.

---

Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency<br />(Public Inquiries)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have adequate resources in order for them to make representations to public inquiries on planning applications for large renewables projects. (S2O-10092)

SNH and SEPA are statutory consultees under a range of provisions on development proposals, including renewable energy schemes. Grant in aid for 2005-06 for SNH is set at £63.697 million and for SEPA at £35.582 million. Funding for SEPA has increased by 21 per cent over the past two years, and SNH has seen an increase in funding of more than 5 per cent during the same period. I am satisfied that both SNH and SEPA have adequate resources to allow them to make representations to public local inquiries. Both organisations must exercise judgment about priorities.

If the minister is satisfied that SNH and SEPA have the resources, it must be that they are simply not making those representations. I do not know whether the minister is aware of the frustration that exists among communities in Perthshire and the Ochils that are involved in public inquiries, opposing planning applications for large-scale onshore wind farms. They are having to find tens of thousands of pounds out of their own pockets to employ representation and expert witnesses to level the playing field with wealthy developers, while statutory consultees such as SEPA and SNH—which have objected to the proposals in writing—refuse to provide representation because of a supposed lack of resources. Surely the Scottish Executive should ensure that statutory consultees are in a position to back up at a public inquiry the evidence that they have given in writing.

I do not want to comment on particular cases but I reiterate that both organisations have received substantial increases in funding. Of course, SEPA and SNH will give a high priority to contributing to public local planning inquiries. They must decide whether that contribution will be oral or written, and they will base those decisions on the individual cases.

Does the minister agree that it is a touch bizarre for the Conservative spokesman to be asking for increased taxpayers' money to be given to certain public agencies so that they can go along to public inquiries to oppose projects that, if they go ahead, will also be funded by the taxpayer?

In general policy terms, our renewable energy targets are hugely important and seek to achieve the important environmental objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. SNH and SEPA recognise that. However, ministers will not grant consent in a particular case if the environmental impacts of the development would be unacceptable and could not be addressed by mitigation or compensation, for example. Those bodies have a clear role.

Helen Eadie does not appear to be here to ask question 5.

---

Fly-tipping

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for action to deter the practice of fly-tipping and discarding litter at roadsides and lay-bys. (S2O-10122)

The Executive has taken a number of steps to increase penalties for littering and fly-tipping and to improve enforcement. Substantial funding has been provided to undertake educational campaigns.

Am I right in thinking that the Executive's trunk road contractors are collecting more than 30,000 sacks of litter thrown out by drivers and passengers every year? I presume that as much again will be collected on local roads. What will the minister do about the filthy and decadent louts who are flinging cans, McDonalds wrappers and everything else on to our roadsides? Surely this is one area in which we have the devolved powers to address a genuine problem. Will the minister adopt proactive tactics—hidden cameras for example—to detect culprits? Why not compel offenders to spend time collecting litter as well as name and shame them?

The figures quoted by John Home Robertson are right. I know that, because they were contained in a letter from a colleague minister that indicated the volume of waste that is dumped.

The fact that a substantial number of the offences take place in the hours of darkness greatly complicates matters, although the police have been asked to consider the problem. However, we have made it clear to all authorities, in particular the police, that we have additional powers and that certain pollution offences, including fly-tipping, can carry fines of up to £40,000 under summary proceedings.

We have weapons, but they might not be being used. I take the member's point that we need to ensure that authorities realise that they have additional powers and that they are capable of using them to greater effect, because the volume of waste that is being collected and the unsightly mess that such waste makes of our countryside are simply not acceptable.

I call Alex Fergusson. I am sorry; I meant Alex Johnstone.

Anecdotal evidence and, to some extent, personal experience indicate that a higher proportion of our police force is patrolling the roads in the current environment. Has the minister any views on whether the police have the necessary powers or the will to take greater action in an attempt to prevent this most heinous and highly visible environmental crime?

I see that the burden of proof has shifted from absolute assertions provided by factual information from a minister to anecdotal evidence. I repeat the point that I made to John Home Robertson. The Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 includes additional provisions that double to £40,000 the maximum fine possible under summary proceedings for pollution offences, including fly-tipping.

I cannot possibly answer on what chief constables have in mind as their priorities, but we have made it clear—and we will continue to do so—that littering the countryside is a serious offence and that any perpetrators should be brought to book and should face the penalties that are now available within the jurisdiction.

Question 7 has been withdrawn.

---

Aberdeen Beach Recharge Scheme

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Aberdeen beach recharge scheme. (S2O-10113)

Aberdeen City Council is making good progress with its preparations and is on track to carry out the scheme this summer.

I welcome the investment in preserving the future of Aberdeen's beach following a campaign by Lewis Macdonald, who is the local MSP. Will the minister assure me not only that the Executive is ready to make speedy progress on the scheme but that dialogue is taking place with Aberdeen City Council to ensure that it makes timeous progress on putting in place the right consultation and planning processes to allow the scheme to proceed quickly?

Yes, of course. I, too, acknowledge Lewis Macdonald's campaign to save Aberdeen beach and I was delighted to be able to accept the council's business case for the scheme. As Richard Baker knows, we have agreed in principle to grant aid the scheme, subject to its gaining statutory consents. I understand that objections were made to the granting of planning permission, but we expect a decision on the matter shortly.

The council decided to negotiate a single tender with an appointed contractor for the dredging and placing of the sand from Montrose port. The council has invited competitive tenders for the other works to be returned by 12 June. Subject to obtaining the necessary consents, sand recharge is planned to start in mid-July and take about one month. The other works will follow on no later than September and will take about eight weeks. My officials are working closely with Aberdeen City Council to ensure that the scheme goes ahead as planned.

As one who spent many a long day on Aberdeen beach in my childhood, I am grateful for the actions that the Executive and Aberdeen City Council are taking to ensure that the beach is not only protected but built up to compensate for some of the losses that have been suffered in recent years. Given that the minister has now committed herself to improving the quality of the sand, can she do anything to improve the weather?

That is a matter for the First Minister.

I am advised that that is a matter for the First Minister, but I suspect that it is a matter for somebody up there.

I am delighted to hear that Alex Johnstone is pleased with the action that is to be taken to save Aberdeen beach. It is a great beach. I lived in Aberdeen for many years and used the beach on many occasions—but not often for swimming. I welcome Alex Johnstone's support.

Question 9 has been withdrawn.

---

Beef Exports

We move to question 10, for which I call Alex Fergusson.

Well-recognised, Presiding Officer.

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage the export of Scottish beef. (S20-10094)

The Executive is working closely with Quality Meat Scotland in its efforts to promote Scottish beef in mainland Europe. I have already attended events in Brussels, Monaco and Rotterdam to launch Scottish beef into those areas. Next week, I will attend a dinner in Bologna that will relaunch Scottish beef into Italy. We are also providing financial assistance towards the cost of QMS marketing agents in France.

I am sure that all members will agree that the efforts that are being made could not be better directed.

Does the minister agree that an important component of the trade, especially for the dairy sector, is the resumption of live exports? Now that the rest of Europe is on the verge of adopting new rules on veal production, can he assure the Parliament that the Executive will not attempt to hinder that trade as long as all relevant welfare concerns are addressed and legislation is properly adhered to? Will he assure us that a tough line will be taken with any individual or organisation that attempts to hinder the trade?

Alex Fergusson certainly makes a valid point, in that substantial changes have been made to the nature of the regulations that govern the live-meat trade. I think that almost all European Union member states have now abandoned the old veal cages. That is to be warmly welcomed as we know that the resumption of the meat trade will bring the issue of live exports into play. It is absolutely clear that, as long as regulations on international trading and the welfare of animals are adhered to, there is no reason for ministers or any other Government to impede progress.

Clearly, British legations and consulates abroad potentially have an important role in the promotion of Scottish beef exports. Will the minister say what steps he is taking to ensure that the legations and consulates are aware of the fact that Scottish beef is now available for export once again and of the distinction between Scottish beef and beef from other parts of the United Kingdom?

I assure Alasdair Morgan that the respective British embassy—and, indeed, the respective British ambassador—was intimately involved in each of three events that I attended in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. They are part of the wide dissemination of information. The same process will be undertaken as we relaunch next week into Italy. I assure the member that all steps have been taken and the appropriate information has been provided to ensure that the attempt to launch and relaunch Scotch beef into mainland Europe is well co-ordinated.

In his primary answer, the minister indicated that he had been over in Europe promoting Scottish beef. I understand that the receptions were very successful. He indicated that there are one or two slots in his future itinerary. Does he have any plans to further extend this European tour to promote Scottish beef?

I am sure that the member appreciates the infelicitous nature of the split infinitive "to further extend". I am sure that that was not quite what he meant.

It was very important for the Scottish Executive—the Scottish Government—to be seen at those events, which were well prepared and rehearsed. We were absolutely clear that the invitations should be extended to those with a genuine interest in the matter—leading chefs, journalists in the technical press, and those with a clear interest in the importation and processing of beef.

QMS has plans to ensure that the momentum of the initial launch is sustained. As we get into the autumn, I will want to meet QMS to review progress and to see whether it is appropriate for Government to give a further boost to that kind of promotional event. However, I rather suspect that the money that we are giving to assist in the appointment of agents in those key countries is now the issue and that, from now on, our main task will be to ensure that the message goes out about the quality of the product that we are selling on the ground and that key buyers are targeted.

The minister is aware that, pre-BSE, the beef export industry was worth £120 million. Has any work been done to estimate the potential market that is currently available to Scottish farmers? In addition to the answers that he has given thus far, does the minister have any further initiatives up his sleeve? I am thinking in particular of on-the-ground initiatives to promote Scottish beef in Europe.

I am sorry that £10 million seems to have got lost in translation. The industry has generally regarded the figure as being £130 million, but there we are. If it helps the member, I can give the figure in euros—it is €200 million. I suspect that that remark might be rather more contentious. John Scott spoke about getting Scottish beef back into Europe. Of course, beef never left Europe; Scotland is in Europe. We must be careful about what we say in that regard.

As the analysis that QMS Scotland and others have undertaken shows, there will be a long gestation period before we fully re-establish these markets; time has moved on. The people I met during each visit told me clearly of their appetite to purchase Scottish beef—oh, that was a very bad pun. I should say that they told me of their willingness to purchase Scottish beef. However, the price, quality and all of those aspects must be set out.

Agents have been appointed in the Benelux countries and France and we are reassessing the situation in Italy. That work on the ground is absolutely critical. I have no reason to believe that, in a year or a year and a bit, we will not have gone way beyond the £130 million figure, but it would be foolish to pretend that that will happen overnight. We have had 10 years in which people have not had the opportunity to purchase the product. I am satisfied that the campaign has been structured very professionally indeed.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I welcome the fact that my question elicited a record number of supplementaries, but I modestly suggest that it would have been more in order to fill in the time available as a result of questions not being lodged, a member not being in the chamber in time to ask her question and questions being withdrawn. The situation highlights the point of order that Stewart Stevenson made this morning, when he drew attention to the problem of questions that are not lodged. I understand that the matter must be referred to the Procedures Committee, but could the name of the person who failed to lodge a question be published in the Business Bulletin before the phrase, "Not Lodged"? That might reduce the number of questions that are not lodged.

That is a matter for the Procedures Committee, as the member knows, but we will reflect on what he has said.

---

Health and Community Care

Question 1 has been withdrawn.

---

Digital Hearing Aids (Waiting Times)

Presiding Officer, John Farquhar Munro was to ask the third question on health and community care, but unfortunately he is ill and not in the Parliament, so his question probably should have been withdrawn.

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in reducing waiting times for digital hearing aids. (S2O-10156)

Waiting times fell between June and November last year in nine of the 12 areas for which figures are available. We continue to work with all national health service boards to reduce those waiting times further.

Does the minister agree that it is appalling that one of my constituents has a proposed wait of 2.5 years just for an assessment? Does he agree that as well as reducing other waiting times, serious efforts need to be made to put the problem right in Lothian? It is a disgrace and an embarrassment for the health service that my constituent must wait for 2.5 years, not to get his hearing aid but for his assessment.

I agree that the length of time that Mike Pringle describes is not acceptable. I understand that during the past 12 months in Lothian, the period during which new patients have been required to wait for assessment and then for a fitting has fallen by nearly half. It is clear that progress remains to be made in that regard and I expect audiology departments throughout Scotland to continue to work towards meeting the rigorous targets that we set in relation to the fitting of digital hearing aids for patients, wherever they are in Scotland.

I thought that I would ask a supplementary question in case I did not have a chance to ask question 7. I give notice that I withdraw question 7.

The minister is aware that there is a particular need for audiology services in my constituency, where many former workers in heavy industry suffer hearing loss. Despite a spend of £600,000 18 months ago to cut waiting times, people still wait far too long. Will the minister examine how the extra money was spent and ascertain why better results have not been achieved? If the service remains unable to meet demand, despite the best efforts of the people who deliver it, will he consider enlisting outside help?

If health boards are struggling to make the changes that are required to put services in place it is appropriate that they seek support from elsewhere. I believe that in the former NHS Argyll and Clyde area progress has been made in recent weeks, but there is more to be made.

The key for many boards is to put in place trained staff, particularly audiologists, and the necessary equipment and facilities. I understand that quite a lot of the money that was provided is being used for those purposes. The money does not deliver everything immediately, but we want early delivery. As short-term measures, a number of boards have brought in private sector providers to assist them or made other temporary arrangements to help to reduce waiting times. We expect all boards to consider such measures if they are appropriate and will help them to achieve short-term targets. In the long term, boards must put in place the facilities and staff that are key to meeting the targets.

I acknowledge the recent roll-out of audiology modernisation throughout Scotland. It is good news that 92 per cent of hearing aids that are issued are now digital. However, concerns arise about a postcode lottery for treatment. What is the future direction of the policy on audiology and will the need for further progress create undue pressure on the current budget?

I hope that it does not. I also hope that the term "postcode lottery" does not become a code for saying that local health board discretion is suddenly a bad thing, because it is a good thing. Boards have specific challenges to meet in their areas and we expect them to meet those challenges. We also expect the good example that some boards have set in pushing down waiting times, in some cases to half of what they were a year ago, to be followed by others.

We have provided funding for degree courses for audiologists—a four-year course for new students who start from first year and a two-year conversion course for students who have already completed a bachelor of science course. That will bring new audiologists on stream. The first students will complete the conversion course in the summer of next year and newly trained students will become available two years after that. That provision will make a significant difference over that timescale. In the meantime, we expect boards to learn from one another and to work with Executive officials to ensure that waiting times are driven down as fast as possible.

Given the difficulties with waiting times for audiology services, will the minister consider setting a waiting-time target for the services?

We have done so. We have asked boards to ensure that the waiting time is reduced to 26 weeks—that is the target that is in place and we want boards to make progress toward achieving it. Some are already doing well but, as I said, others have some way to go. We want to ensure that they work toward those outcomes in a co-ordinated way. However, we realise that, to do that, boards need trained staff, which is why we have made provision for the degree courses that I described.

Question 3 has been withdrawn.

---

Residential Care (Highland)

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from Highland Council in respect of Highland Council's plans to put out to tender the provision of care for elderly people who are currently resident in local authority homes, such as Grant House, Grantown-on-Spey; Invernevis House, Fort William; the Wade Centre, Kingussie; and Ach an Eas and Burnside, Inverness; and whether it considers that the savings which the council has predicted are realistic. (S2O-10087)

The issue is for Highland Council, but it has kept my officials informed about the progress of the tender exercise. The council believes that it can make significant savings by tendering a number of care home places to the independent sector and intends to use any savings for the delivery of home care services in its area.

I have given notice of my supplementary question to the minister's office. He will be aware of the widespread concern about the issue among the relatives of people who are looked after in the homes and the worrying possibility that they may have to move. The minister will know that Highland Council leaders elected not to hold public meetings to present the policy in any part of my constituency. Does the minister accept that the council has not carried out such an exercise previously and that the task of preparing the specification and the preferred bidder method of tendering are immensely complex and challenging? Does he therefore agree that it would be prudent for the plans to undergo some form of independent evaluation before they are implemented, to ensure that they are robust?

I am grateful to Mr Ewing for the advance notice of his supplementary question. Arriving at a specification and the tendering processes that follow from that are always complex matters. It is for Highland Council to determine how it does that—that is the discretion that we give local authorities. The council assures me that, in preparing for that, it has followed Treasury green book methodology and Executive guidance on value for money. Nonetheless, more significantly in respect of Mr Ewing's question, the council, rather than wait for the routine audit of its plans and expenditure, has asked Audit Scotland to monitor the tendering process as it happens. That may well meet Mr Ewing's request.

---

NHS Boards (Performance)

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the Minister for Health and Community Care will focus on when he reviews the performance of national health service boards during the summer. (S2O-10088)

I will cover a broad range of topics during this year's annual reviews, including service improvements, shifting the balance of care, service redesign, resources and, of course, important local issues.

In the case of NHS Western Isles, will the minister focus on the retention level of senior staff and the size of severance payments to those staff in recent years, compared with the retention levels of and severance payments to such staff in other national health service boards in Scotland?

I will do so, as the member has raised those issues. I will also reflect on the performance of NHS Western Isles, which has met the waiting times and accident and emergency targets that the Executive set it and has a good track record on patient waiting times, dealing with availability status codes and other issues. The member wants to reflect on more controversial matters, but my job during the annual reviews is also to reflect on the good performance of our NHS boards, including that of NHS Western Isles.

---

Drug Addiction (Specialist Facilities)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce national health service specialist facilities to treat and rehabilitate young people addicted to drugs. (S2O-10163)

The Executive allocates more than £23 million annually to NHS boards for the provision of drug treatment and rehabilitation services, including those for young people. Drug action teams and their local partners should assess the level of need in their area in order to ensure that drug treatment and rehabilitation services meet local needs, and NHS boards should take their advice in deciding how best to provide those services.

Does the minister agree that the community-based approach to drug treatment and care in Fife—where a range of services is specifically designed for those under 16 and other young people—is the best way forward in targeting the problem of young people's addiction to drugs?

I agree that there are good models in the Fife drug action team's work that focuses on families and young people. Such work will certainly help to support those people and their wider families in dealing with addiction and preventing addictions becoming lifelong. It is clear that good work is also being done in the safer neighbourhood teams to encourage young people to access services, which is to be welcomed. We want such models to continue to develop.

Is the minister aware that NHS Grampian, which is his local health board, has said that the waiting time for drug treatment services for drug users in Moray has reached eight months? Does he accept that that is unacceptable, despite all the hard work that professionals have done on the ground in NHS Grampian? Will he investigate why the waiting time is so long? Is there a lack of resources? Does he accept that the quicker drug treatment programmes for addicts are delivered, the quicker a lot of misery for families and our local communities will be prevented?

I am aware of issues that have arisen in the Grampian area, as I am sure are other members. Difficult issues relating to treatment and rehabilitation and the levels of addiction and drug misuse in communities are involved and it is clear that we must tackle both ends of the spectrum. The treatment of and support for those who misuse drugs must be improved, but we also need to continue to support the action that has been taken to reduce the supply of drugs and the number of young people throughout Scotland who become involved in such damaging practice.

Is the minister aware that 70 per cent of those who use drug rehabilitation services go back on to drugs within 90 days? Will he deal with the projects that are involved and consider their focus in order to find out how that poor record can be improved?

Duncan McNeil makes an important point. It is important to put in place treatment services, but they will not by themselves tackle all the issues that arise. I am certainly prepared to consider such matters in the way that Duncan McNeil has suggested and will respond further to him in due course.

Question 7 has been withdrawn.

---

Primary Care (Springburn)

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to improve access to primary care in Glasgow Springburn. (S2O-10129)

In March, I announced a further investment of £2.6 million in Springburn health centre, which will provide the platform for better access to improved services for the people of Springburn. As Paul Martin is aware, I will visit Springburn health centre on 26 June, when both of us will have the opportunity to see the improvements to dental, primary and community health care services following the recent premises upgrade.

I welcome the £2.6 million investment in Springburn health centre and the new investment in the adjacent Petershill health centre.

What plans does the minister have to move away from the traditional concentration on general practitioners in health centres and to take a much wider approach to tackling some of the health inequalities that we have heard about so often in the chamber?

All across Scotland, I see many health boards taking up the challenge of "Delivering for Health". That challenge encompasses the very message that the member raises. It is about the broadening of local community health services to cover not only the treatment of patients, but preventive and anticipatory care. It is also about involving allied health professionals, dentists and local government partners in the health and well-being of communities. That is the approach that we want to take.

The Springburn health centre provides extra GP facilities, but there are also community health staff, a consulting room for outreach services—including sexual health services—and the extension of the community pharmacy. In many ways, Springburn is setting an example for the rest of Scotland. However, I accept that we should not be complacent. I want more services to go out to local communities, and to transform our health service into the preventive and anticipatory care model so that we can improve the overall health and well-being of our nation.

---

Osteoporosis (West of Scotland)

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the service for people who suffer from osteoporosis in the west of Scotland. (S2O-10097)

Our work on smoking, diet and exercise will all help to reduce the risk of people developing osteoporosis. Our work on falls prevention will also help prevent people with osteoporosis from experiencing further fractures. Early diagnosis is very important, and we encourage NHS boards to ensure ready access to DEXA—dual energy x-ray absorptiometry—scanning. Boards should also ensure there is local implementation of the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network's guideline on the management of osteoporosis.

The minister may be aware that services for osteoporosis patients in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area were much better than they were in the former Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area. For example, there were no DEXA scanners in Argyll and Clyde and all patients had to transfer to Glasgow for a scan.

Now that the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area has been mostly absorbed into the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board area, will the minister urge the board to improve services for osteoporosis patients in the Argyll and Clyde area—especially in relation to the assessment of secondary fractures and the provision of locally available DEXA scanners?

I would certainly be happy to have a discussion with Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board on that matter. Clearly, the board is responsible for delivering those services and that support. As Stewart Maxwell acknowledges, the board has led the way in the provision of a DEXA scanner in the west of Scotland. That encourages me to believe that it will want to extend that service more widely.

The minister will be aware that the National Osteoporosis Society is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. I want to acknowledge the great progress that has been made in that time. Does the minister accept that, as diagnosis improves, it is being discovered that the size of the problem is growing? What further measures might the minister take with a view to improving the diet of young people, especially those in the areas of south and west Scotland with a high deprivation index?

John Scott is right to say that we have a growing problem that must be faced. We have an aging population and we have to address such problems when people are at an early age. Good work is already going on under the Scottish diet action plan, an aspect of which is the encouragement and promotion of calcium intake. That is clearly very important for young people, but also for more mature people.

"Delivering for Health" sets out the importance of early preventive interventions before conditions develop. We will continue to work on that.

---

Cancer (Waiting Times)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to ensure that waiting time targets for urgent referrals for people with cancer are met. (S2O-10082)

I continue to impress on NHS boards' chairs and chief executives the need for continuous action to drive and deliver faster care for patients with cancer. There are signs of improvements in specific cancer services but the benefits of extra investment and additional actions to drive down waiting times are taking far too long to show. To aid delivery of the national cancer waiting times target, a national delivery plan has been developed which sets out the key additional actions agreed with NHS boards and regional cancer networks. A copy of this plan is available on the Scottish Executive website.

During the forthcoming annual reviews, I will be challenging NHS boards to demonstrate that they are taking the necessary action to improve performance, and to demonstrate that progress is being made.

I am pleased that the minister shares my concerns, but the past few sets of statistics have shown that in some of the areas in which the targets on particular cancers have not been met, the situation has worsened. We know in which health board areas there are particular problems. What action can the minister guarantee will be taken to ensure that the next time we get the statistics for urgent referrals there are signs of improvement in those specific areas?

The cancer services in Scotland are among the best in the world. We have built up capacity and have seen what improvements in services can be achieved. More and more people with cancer are surviving—we should understand that it is no longer the death sentence that it once was.

However, I remain extremely concerned about the performance of some of our boards. As well as taking action on the reporting systems, investing in trackers and providing additional consultancy support, we have worked to make available diagnostic equipment resources to those boards. I understand the member's concerns; I, too, am concerned. The action plan has been put in place and I expect it to be delivered on.