Psychologists are a valuable contribution to the child and adolescent mental health workforce and to this end we are investing £1 million this year, rising to £3.5 million in 2011-12 to support NHS boards to increase the number of psychologists working in specialist CAMHS.

This money will be specifically targeted at increasing the number of clinical and masters grade psychologists working in specialist CAMHS in the NHS in Scotland and will support both additional training places and additional posts to ensure that the investment in training is translated into increased capacity.

NHS boards are expected to take all workforce issues, in particular the skill mix required to deliver a specific service, into account when planning service developments. This will include, where relevant, consideration of local psychology vacancies.

In response to the increased demand for access to applied psychologists and psychological therapies, we are currently considering the role that applied psychologists can play in developing the overall psychological competence of the workforce. NHS Boards have been asked to comment on a draft report and recommendations which aims to inform local workforce planning and service delivery and we look forward to their response.

Copies of the report and covering letter have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 49878 and 49879).

A successful pilot on teledermatology has been completed by the Scottish Centre for Telehealth (SCT). The SCT has recently become part of NHS24. As a service delivery and improvement organisation NHS24 will provide a national focus for telehealth related activity. NHS 24 and the SCT are developing a national telehealth strategy and business plan in consultation with stakeholders. Next steps for projects such as the teledermatology project will be considered as part of this process which will be complete by April 2010.

Telemedicine is not currently used to carry out aortic aneurysm checks.

All Scottish Government funding for the development of sport in Scotland is routed through sportscotland. The information requested on funding is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. I have therefore asked the chief executive of sportscotland to write to the member providing the detailed operational information requested.

The Scottish Government provided funding of £2 million through the National Strategy for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse to help address the needs of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This funding was allocated to 25 statutory and voluntary organisations to develop a wide range of services for survivors, including preventative work, support and counselling. Further details can be found at www.survivorscotland.org.uk.

The provision of NHS services including podiatry services, is a matter for NHS boards. NHS boards have a responsibility for allocating resources for NHS services in line with local and national priorities.

Advice and guidance around the decontamination of surgical instruments used in podiatry, can be obtained from local health boards, Health Protection Scotland and Health Facilities Scotland.

We have recently made available to NHS boards the outcomes of considerations by a multi-disciplinary working group established to look at how the psychology profession can best respond to the increased demand for access to applied psychologists and psychological therapies in Scotland. We have asked that they take account of this in developing their plans for the future in considering the role that applied psychologists can play in developing the overall psychological competence of the workforce.

Healthy Eating, Active Living: an action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (June 2008) outlines the broad range of services that are delivered through the NHS, local authorities and the third sector which the government supports. In addition the NHS offers a range of services and treatments that are available to people with weight problems that have been developed and delivered locally by individual NHS boards.

The provision of NHS services including Podiatry Services, is a matter for NHS boards. NHS boards have a responsibility for allocating resources for NHS services in line with local and national priorities.