Each of these techniques are provided by one of Scotland’s four tertiary referral centres based in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Notes:

DI- Donor Insemination

ICSI- Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection

IVF- In-vitro Fertilisation

*Data not currently available.

**This technique has never been requested in Orkney, but would be met out of the infertility budget if needed.

The number of ICSI treatmentsperformed is not held centrally.

Under the Human Rights Act 1998,all public authorities are bound to comply with the terms of the ECHR as a matterof domestic law.

The couple should then be referred,if necessary, for further investigation and management provided by a special infertilityteam in a district general hospital. And then, as clinically appropriate, be referredonto one of the four tertiary referral centres in Scotland forassisted conception techniques.

The expert group recommendedthat once accepted onto an assisted conception programme, couples should be permittedto undergo successive cycles within a time frame of their own choosing. They shouldnot return to the end of a waiting list following an unsuccessful cycle.

The Scottish Executive recognisesthe importance of the availability across Scotland of services provided by the Post Office network. We workwith the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Post Office Ltd to ensure thatactivity to support the rural Post Office network recognises the Scottish dimension.A DTI funding package secures the future of the network until March 2006. Fundingis directed towards: subsidising the rural network so that there are no avoidableclosures, developing and marketing new products and services deliverable throughpost offices, and piloting innovative solutions to rural postal service provision.

School Education

The Executive has commissioned Dr Gavin Reid, of Edinburgh University, tocarry out an audit of training provision made for dyslexia by education authoritiesacross Scotland. The final report of the audit is due in late May/earlyJune 2004.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is receiving fundingover two years (2004-06) to audit education authority policies for deaf children.Training for education professionals will also be provided and good practice guidanceproduced.

The Executive has funded the Scottish Sensory Centre sinceOctober 2000 to undertake the Achievement of Deaf Pupils Project. This will enablemore accurate information on the numbers of deaf pupils in Scotland to be collected, and on their attainments. Such informationwill identify where improvements are required to improve the quality of provision.Executive funding will conclude March 2005.

HerMajesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) will carry out a specialist inspectionof educational provision for children and young people with autistic spectrum disordersthroughout Scotland. The inspection will include other services, such astherapy services, where this has an impact on a child's education. It is expectedthat this work will take place over 2005-06 with some scoping activities takingplace later this year. HMIE will prepare a report for ministers which outlines thecurrent situation, highlights good practice and provides recommendations for movingforward.

Further and Higher Education

Scottish Further Education FundingCouncil (SFEFC) and Scottish  Higher education Funding Council (SHEFC) have commissioneda range of research into how effectively colleges and higher education institutionsare meeting the requirements of disability legislation and are meeting the needsof disabled students in general. This includes a piece of research into how collegesand higher education institutions are meeting the needs of deaf students in particular,which is due to be completed by the end of May 2004.

SFEFC and SHEFC plan in 2005-06to commission further research into how colleges and higher education institutionsare meeting their obligations under relevant disability legislation. In addition,SFEFC and SHEFC are currently undertaking a root and branch review of their approachto widening participation to lifelong learning, which will address the issue ofaccess to and participation in lifelong learning for people with disabilities. Thisreview is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.

Justice

The working group which reviewedlegal information and advice provision in Scotland recognised in its report of 2001that, at present, the service provision of legal advice and information is inconsistentand patchy. A consistent theme underlying their recommendations was partnershipworking and improved co-ordination.

Legal Information and AdvicePilots aim to produce a strategic plan for the provision of legal advice servicesin an area and to ensure better co-ordination and better referral mechanisms.

The Scottish Executive ran aprogramme of pilot partnerships from May 2003 to April 2004. Three of these pilotscovered specific geographical areas and the 4th was a national thematic pilot coveringthe advice needs of disabled people and was chaired by the Disability Rights Commission.The pilot partnerships are in the process of finalising their strategic plans. Therecommendations from these plans will feed in to the Strategic Review of the Deliveryof Legal Aid, Advice and Information which will report later this year.

Health Services

Aspart of the Patient Focus and Public Involvement programme of work, the Health Departmenthave established a partnership arrangement with the Disability Rights Commissionto ensure that the NHS is provided with support and guidance to develop responsiveand sensitive services. As part of this, the Good Practice Guidance Equalityfor Disabled People in the NHS in Scotland: Access to Services will be updatedand will reflect the latest evidence and research in communication impairment. Pleasealso refer to the answers to parliamentary questions all answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search site can be foundat http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search

S2W-6895 answered 29 March 2004 , 737928 April 2004, 7380 28 April 2004, 7381 28 April 2004, 08279 26 May 2004, 8280 26May 2004 , 8281 26 May 2004 and 8489 answered on the 8 June 2004 .