Chamber and committees

The recruitment of teachers to the supply pool is a matter for education authorities.Education authorities use a variety of approaches to manage supply cover and to attract qualified personnel to supply lists. The Scottish Executive is about to commission a small research project on the management of supply teachers in education authorities throughout Scotland. The survey should commence in March/April 2000. The project aims to review the systems in place to match the needs of schools with the available staff and to highlight best practice and the results will be shared with authorities.

We have given guidance on this to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. Student intakes to courses of initial teacher education in 1999-2000 took account of this guidance and the Funding Council will be taking similar action for intakes in 2000-01.

Health boards are given an annual general revenue allocation. It is for boards to decide locally how best to deliver healthcare services to meet the healthcare needs of their resident population including services for those diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

The Executive's priorities for health and education spending are fully reflected in the proposals set out in the Budget Bill, currently before Parliament.

Motor neurone disease is difficult to diagnose in the early stages and usually requires referral to a consultant neurologist for investigation and management.Training in diagnostic skills is a fundamental part of medical undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education. Motor neurone disease is a particularly distressing illness; the progression of the disease is not affected by the stage at which it is diagnosed. Diagnosis and management of patients involves close collaboration between GPs, consultant neurologists and ultimately palliative care services.

We are aware of 49 research projects on motor neurone disease (MND) which have been undertaken in the UK over the last seven years, some of which are ongoing. None of these consider vitamins as a possible alleviator of MND symptoms.Details of these studies are available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Pupils should experience music as part of the Expressive Arts component of the 5-14 curriculum. How music is provided within the curriculum is a matter for local authorities.

It is for each Health Board to determine its prescribing policy on medicines, including Riluzole, taking into account the advice provided by their Drug and Therapeutic Committee.In 1996, Riluzole was granted a Marketing Authorisation valid for the European Union on the basis of the dossier submitted to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). The European Committee of Proprietary Medicinal Products satisfied itself of the quality, safety and efficacy of Riluzole before recommending the granting of the Marketing Authorisation. Treatment with Riluzole should only be initiated by specialist physicians with experience in the management of motor neurone diseases. The European Public Assessment Report for Riluzole can be found on the EMEA website at http://www.euda.org/emea/html.

We are aware of eight current research studies in Scotland into various aspects of motor neurone disease. Throughout the UK, there are 29 such studies which are ongoing.Details of these studies are available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

We are aware of 8 current research studies in Scotland into various aspects of motor neurone disease. Throughout the UK, there are 29 such studies which are ongoing.Details of these studies are available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.