Chamber and committees

The target referred to in the question forms part of the National Service Framework for CHD (2000), which applies only to England. The position in Scotland is governed by SIGN Guideline 57 (2002) and the CHD and Stroke Strategy (2002, revised 2004). The cardiac Managed Clinical Networks in each board are responsible for cardiac rehabilitation programmes, in particular for encouraging the participation of groups which tend to be excluded, such as women, older people and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

The revised CHD and Stroke Strategy, due for publication this summer, will take account of recommendations arising from current work on cardiac rehabilitation being undertaken by the National Advisory Committee on CHD.

The vast majority of patients, young and old, leave our hospitals without suffering from any form of infection. Our hospitals are now far cleaner and safer environments and through our hand hygiene campaign we are continuing to make staff, patients and visitors aware that they have a responsibility for ensuring that they embed good hand hygiene into their daily routine to avoid passing infections on to vulnerable patients.

The Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) programme has been continually evolving since 2003 as part of a concerted effort to reduce infection rates. But I have recognised that a still more intensive programme of work is required if we are to tackle the programme more effectively. I have therefore earmarked £54 million over the next three years to back a new HAI programme from 2008-09 and to support a national MRSA Screening Programme from 2009-10.

Practice on capping the cost of packages varies from area to area. This is an issue to be resolved at local level through partnership working. It is the responsibility of local authorities to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities. Authorities work closely with their partners, including NHS boards, in achieving key national and local outcomes.

I meet monthly with all NHS board chairs. I chaired the Annual Review of NHS Fife on 13 August last year and have also met managers and front line staff during visits to health care facilities in Fife “ for example when I opened the new haematology unit at Queen Margaret Hospital and the new Linburn Road Health Centre in Dunfermline on 20 November.

Scottish Government officials also meet regularly with NHS Fife to discuss a wide range of matters.

The Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Economic Affairsand Europe and head of the Cabinet OfficeEuropean Secretariat, Jon Cunliffe, was present at the Joint Ministerial Committeeon Europe on 5 December which I attended. Scottish Government officials are alsoinvited to the regular meetings jointly chaired by the head of the Cabinet OfficeEuropean Secretariat and the UK Permanent Representative to the European Union,which they attend when items of interest to the Scottish Government are on the agenda.Most recently, the Scottish Government’s EU Director, Michael Aron, attended themeeting on 23 January.

European policy co-ordinationis carried out by the Scottish Government EU Office in Brussels and Europe Divisionin Edinburgh under the overall responsibility of the government’s EU Director, currentlyMichael Aron.

There are currently no plansto run training courses specifically related to Article 19 of the EU procurementdirective.

However, guidance on “reservedcontracts” was made available to public bodies in March 2006 and in October lastyear, the Scottish Government issued a guidance document Social Issues in Public Procurement which reconfirmed the Government’s support of the useof article 19. In additional, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism andofficials met with Supported Businesses representatives last December to agree anumber of action points addressing issues arising around the use of reserved contractsfrom both the public sector side and from the “supported businesses” side.

The Scottish Government’s EUDirector, Michael Aron, meets with the UK Permanent Representative to the EuropeanUnion on a regular basis. They last met on 23 January. The EU Director has a standinginvitation to the Permanent Representative’s weekly senior management meetings whichhe attends as necessary. Scottish Government officials are also invited to the regularmeetings jointly chaired by the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariatand the UK Permanent Representative to the EU, which they attend when there areitems of interest to the Scottish Government on the agenda.

Officials from the Scottish ProcurementDirectorate have met, and are in regular contact, with colleagues from the Officeof Government Commerce Policy and Standards Division (previously known as HM Treasuryand DTI Procurement Policy Unit) to discuss matters related to public procurementpolicy and legislation. Due to the frequency of contact between both offices, itis not possible to list details of every discussion that has taken place over thepast nine months.

Since May 2007, no formal transportrelated discussions have been held with EU regional legislatures. However, in thecourse of day-to-day business, Brussels based Scottish Government officials may have had informaldiscussions with representatives of such legislatures.