The Scottish Executive has allocated funding of £3 million in 2004-05 and in 2005-06 to NHS boards to assist with the preparation for NHS obligations under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland)Act 2004. All NHS boards have been asked to draw up joint local plans with their local authority partners that identify priorities to support implementation of the act. These plans must show evidence of service development and sustainability of therapy services, including speech and language services. The funds provided will enable NHS boards to explore areas of activity including the development of workforce plans, skill mix, career structures, the use of support workers, the identification of training opportunities for parents and teaching staff in providing support as well as the development of new ways of working and service redesign.

The Scottish Executive is also committed, through the Partnership Agreement commitment, to increase the overall numbers of allied health professionals, including speech and language therapists, by 1,500 by 2007. There are also a number of initiatives and investment flowing from the AHP Strategy to retain the existing workforce including a return to practice initiative and the development of alternative routes to state registration.

It is for local health systems, in partnership with local authorities, to determine local needs. However, in the period 1999-2004, there has been an 18.9% growth in the number of speech and language therapists in NHSScotland. The Scottish Executive is also committed, through the Partnership Agreement commitment, to further increase the overall numbers of allied health professionals, including speech and language therapists by 1,500 by 2007.

Local alcohol action teams provide details of services within their respective areas within a Corporate Action Plan submitted annually to the Executive. There is currently no national system in place to audit alcohol services in Scotland.

National funding for alcohol services in 2004-05 was 70% based on the Arbuthnott formula and 30% distributed equally between the 15 boards. Local funding decisions are the responsibility of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams and their partners within NHS boards.

An announcement on future funding and the proposed methodology for allocation will be made shortly.

Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) is authorised for use in children aged six years and over for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the assessment of all requests for authorisation to market drugs. Before a new marketing authorisation, or a variation to an existing authorisation, can be granted, data from pre-clinical and clinical trials must be submitted to the MHRA by the applicant.

The agency has advised that Ritalin was assessed for quality, safety and efficacy at the time of authorisation. The product information for Ritalin contains comprehensive information on the recognised side-effects of treatment.

As with all medicines, the safety of Ritalin is continually monitored by the MHRA and the expert independent advisory body the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

More information about the MHRA and the medicines licensing process can be found on:

www.mhra.gov.uk.

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for funding and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. The CSO is currently funding research into treatment with methylphenidate in boys with ADHD. The research will investigate whether chronic treatment with methylphenidate leads to tolerance or sensitisation, two processes associated with the development of substance misuse problems.

The National Research Register (NRR), a UK-wide research database, records that there are 11 on-going research projects in the UK on ADHD. Details of these projects are available from the NRR, a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

The issue of constraints on new development was addressed in the Executive’s recent consultation Investing in Water Services 2006-2014 (Bib. number 33325), and it will be addressed in the next investment programme commencing in April 2006. A Ministerial Statement outlining priorities for this programme will be made in the Parliament shortly.

We are currently considering a number of issues related to accessing infertility services, including the recommendations from SPCERH. If any changes are proposed we will ensure full public consultation.

Any changes to the current access criteria for NHS funded infertility treatment will be subject to public consultation.

We have no plans to include infertility treatment in the waiting times guarantee at this time.

It is recognised that gastrointestinal disorders are amongst the health concerns of people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Three strands of activity addressing this are: a conference on medical interventions; a draft quality standard for ASD diagnosis, and the SIGN Council’s Guideline on assessment, diagnosis and interventions for children and young people with ASD.

Through the implementation of the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report, the ASD Reference Group’s diagnostic subgroup is currently considering a range of training opportunities to improve autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis across Scotland, with particular reference to psychiatric and psychological input.