Schedule 1 of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002makes explicit that assistance with the preparation of food should not be chargedfor and the terms of the act must be observed.

We wrote to all local authoritieson 24 September 2004 to remind them of this and that they should ensure itis understood by those responsible for implementing the policy.

Should Caledonian MacBrayne decideto move to offshore employment contracts there would be no effect on employees’tax liabilities. Employees would continue to pay Income tax and National InsuranceContributions in the UK. As a result, there would be no effect on employees’entitlement to contributory benefits includingIncapacity Benefit, Basic Retirement Pension, Second State Pension (if not contractedout), Job Seekers Allowance and bereavement benefits. Employees would also continue to be eligible for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. The key changes would be in relation to Statutory SickPay and Statutory Maternity Pay, although broadly equivalent arrangements wouldapply, and employees would no longer be eligible for Statutory Paternity Pay orStatutory Adoption Pay. However, CalMac has confirmed that it would ensure thatthere would be no financial detriment to any employee as a result of any changesand this would be included in employees’ terms and conditions.

There were 69 methadone-relateddrug deaths in Scotland in 2001, 98 in 2002, and 87 in 2003. The figure for 2004will be published on 31 August 2005 in the General Register Office for Scotland’s annualpaper on drug-related deaths.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12278 on 30 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We will consider eligibility among other issues when considering the future of the programme once the current programme end in 2006.

We will consider points of access alongside other issues when considering the future of the warm deal and the central heating programme once the current programmes end in 2006.

To date we have installed over 52,000 central heating systems and insulated over 200,000 homes across Scotland through our programmes. Research on the first year of the central heating programme showed that, of the clients who were fuel poor, nearly nine out of 10 were lifted out of fuel poverty after the programme. In addition, we have recently produced a leaflet for advice providers to inform them and their clients of options for assistance with fuel poverty related problems.

A link between Mycobacterium Avium subspecies Paratuberculosis (Map)and human illness has not been establishedon the basis of current evidence.

Food Standards Agency officialsare not aware of any developments to suggest its advice on the drinking of milkneeds updating at this time. That advice remains that there is no need for anyoneto change dietary habits.

A studyof Map in water distribution systems and consumers' premises completed by the PublicHealth Laboratory Service (PHLS) now part of the Health Protection Agency (HPA)in August 2003 did not detect the presence of Map. This strengthens the view thatdrinking water is unlikely to be a source of exposure.

Experts worldwide differ in theiropinion on whether Mycobacterium Avium subspeciesParatuberculosis (Map) causes Crohn’s disease.The Department of Health’s Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens has on twooccasions (1992 and 1998) concluded that a link could not be established on currentevidence. A similar view was reached by the EU Scientific Committee on Animal Healthand Animal Welfare who recommended increased and urgent research activity to resolvethe issue. The Food Standards Agency and the UK Health Departments have kept andcontinue to keep this matter under close review with their expert committees, butthe evidence on cause and effect remains inconclusive.

I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-17054 on 14 June 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be foundat http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.The Care Commission will be responding to the member with the information requestedin that question.

Detailed information on the typeof inspections carried out by the Care Commission is not collected centrally andI have asked the commission to include the information now being sought in its responseto the earlier question.