Chamber and committees

The Scottish Rehabilitation Technology Providers Forum (SCOTRET) Orthotic Sub-Group, the NHS providers forum for the clinicians, has been asked to consider and provide views by end of March on whether support tights should be available on prescription from GPs.

No. The additional resources have been made available in the general local government settlement from 2002-03 and were distributed through the Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) system. GAE allowances are not intended in general to determine councils' local policy choices, but to form part of the needs-based local government settlement distribution formula.

None. We will, however, shortly be commissioning research into the evidence available on the patient charging systems and what effect they have on the equity of access for and use of treatment; this research will help inform any future policy decisions on the charging systems.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Data on injuries caused by fireworks in October and November 2001 are currently being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry. Details are expected to be published in February or March 2002. Information on the cost of treating these injuries is not held centrally.

We have no plans to do so. We will, however, shortly be commissioning research into the evidence available on the patient charging systems and what effect they have on the equity of access for and use of treatment; this research will help inform any future policy decisions on the charging systems.

We have no plans to do so. We will, however, shortly be commissioning research into the evidence available on the patient charging systems and what effect they have on the equity of access for and use of treatment; this research will help inform any future policy decisions on the charging systems.

The latest available figures confirm that, at 31 October, 49.2% of people aged 65 and over had been vaccinated against flu.

I have decided to revise current prosecution policy to allow children to test purchase tobacco in a pilot scheme. A pilot will be conducted and will last at least one year. As well as tobacco, children may be used for other test purchases of age restricted goods.This decision follows a comprehensive review of the current policy and an examination of the practice in England where test purchasing is presently allowed; it also involved a consultation exercise. A wide range of views were received from a broad range of organisations including the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, ASH Scotland and children's welfare organisations.The issues are finely balanced. Of paramount importance is the safety and welfare of individual children. Detailed guidelines will be issued to ensure the safety of children who do the test purchasing and to ensure that evidence is gathered in such a way as to avoid the necessity of children giving evidence in court. I am satisfied that these arrangements will ensure that no child is put at risk and that children are not put needlessly through the trauma of having to give evidence in court.The pilot will be assessed once sufficient data has been received to allow conclusions to be drawn. That assessment will consider not only the effectiveness of prosecution but also any detrimental effects on the children who have conducted the test purchasing.

The money will go to practices in support of a contract, agreed locally, which will deliver enhanced services to the practice population. We have provided £18.5 million of additional investment over three years for Personal Medical Services pilot sites. This is enabling GPs and their teams to focus on the clinical needs of their patients, by testing out more flexible ways of providing existing and additional services, and the best use of professional skills. Personal Medical Services pilots are being used to improve access to primary care services, reduce inequalities and address recruitment and retention problems, particularly in remote, rural and deprived areas.