Chamber and committees

Additional resources to fund the enhanced concessionary fare arrangements in 2002-03 and beyond were included within the general local government settlement allocations announced in December 2000.

I announced details of the Executive's comprehensive £10.5 million flu immunisation programme for the coming winter.

Following last winter's successful campaign, we have set a new more ambitious uptake target of 65% for people aged 65 and over, supported by enhanced measures to encourage eligible groups to come forward for the flu jab.

The Chief Medical Officer is currently consulting on a proposal to integrate Scotland's clinical effectiveness organisations into a single new organisation and, by so doing, provide NHSScotland with clinical governance at a national level.

My review of prosecution policy in relation to test purchasing of age related goods is now complete and I am consulting with colleagues regarding the result. I intend to make an announcement on the matter shortly.

In 1999, Strathclyde police were involved in trials of drug recognition techniques and field impairment testing. An evaluation found that the techniques helped police in identifying those whose driving might be impaired through drugs. The research findings on the evaluation are published on the DTLR website at: http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/research17/index.htm

The information requested is not held centrally. The level and manner of testing is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Chief Constables are responsible for recruiting and training police surgeons in their areas. A range of training is employed by Scottish forces. This includes study towards the Diploma in Forensic Medicine and the Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence, undertaking Forensic Medical Examiners Course, attending the Edinburgh Coloscopy Course and the Newcastle Child Abuse Facility, induction training with paediatric staff, development and advanced training on sexual assaults and child abuse and attendance at conferences of the Association of Police Surgeons.

Scottish Executive staff may gain work experience within European institutions through the European Commission/Council Stagiare Scheme, the Detached National Expert scheme, the Bi-Lateral Civil Service Exchange scheme, loans to FCO to work in the United Kingdom Representational Office (UKRep) in Brussels, short-term exchanges to other EU administrations and opportunities to work as/assist Pre-Accession Advisers. Members of the European civil service have the opportunity to gain work experience with the Scottish Executive through participation in the Bi-Lateral Civil Service Exchange Scheme or though short-term exchanges organised between their own administrations and the Scottish Executive.

These additional resources for schools, amounting to £17.2 million, were for immediate repairs, maintenance and equipment problems within schools. It was a condition of payment of this grant that, by 29 June 2001, education authorities should publish locally information about what has been achieved through the allocation of these additional resources and that they should submit to the department a report listing for each school how much has been allocated to it and what that amount has been spent on.

The number of police surgeons currently trained and designated to take part in joint paediatric/forensic examination of children suspected of having been abused are:

Central Scotland Police	7
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary	4
Fife Constabulary	0*
Grampian Police	3
Lothian and Borders Police	7
Northern Constabulary	2
Strathclyde Police	5
Tayside Police	3

* Fife Constabulary - The matter of joint paediatric/forensic examinations of children suspected of being abused is under consideration by a sub-committee of the Fife Child Protection Committee. Presently, such examinations are conducted by a qualified medical practitioner who is accompanied by the police surgeon.