Chamber and committees

The information requested is not held centrally. However, Drug and Alcohol Action Teams should have some information about service provision at a local level, which would be helpful.

I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-27544 and S1W-27545 on 8 August 2002, which indicate that waiting time information for treatment for drug and alcohol problems is not held consistently by NHS trusts or boards. We are reviewing the data system, but will wish to balance the benefits of data collection with the effort required by those involved. However, information obtained from Drug Action Team (DAT) Corporate Action Plans on the maximum waiting times for individual care and treatment agencies in each DAT area in 2001-02 is now available on the national drugs website at http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap.htm.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/search_wa.

Home, community and residential alcohol detoxification services are available across Scotland. The Executive's Plan for Action on alcohol problems, which was published on 18 January, acknowledges the need to improve alcohol problems services and fill gaps in current provision, including detoxification, if this is appropriate. It requires local Alcohol Action Teams to assess needs in their areas and produce plans to address these by April 2003. The Executive issued a framework for support and treatment services in September to act as a guide for local plans.

Incidence rates of most types of cancer vary between areas of Scotland and are due to differences in exposures to the main risk factors for cancers: tobacco use, alcohol consumption and diet. Occupational, environmental and genetic factors also contribute to variations.ISD Online provides information on cancer incidence by NHS board for the five-year period 1994-98 and the 10 years 1989-98 at: www.nhsis.co.uk/isd/cancer/facts_figures/facts_figures.htm.Cancer Registration Statistics Scotland 1986-1995, which provides commentary on risk factors, is also available at: www.nhsis.co.uk/isd/Scottish_Health_Statistics/subject/Cancerregistra/index.htm.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:All prisoners who may be considered suitable for retoxification prior to release are afforded a comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment while in custody, as outlined in the answer given to question S1W-28515.

Yes. CoaguChek testing strips will be added to the Scottish Drug Tariff as soon as appropriate guidance for users has been finalised and issued to NHS prescribers and dispensing contractors.

When the 15 unified NHS boards were established in September 2001, our objective was not to achieve financial savings. Rather, the aim of the new boards is to secure the efficient, effective and accountable governance of local NHS systems, focusing on health outcomes and people's experience of the NHS. Moreover, it is about encouraging new attitudes towards how we plan and work together in a single NHS Scotland - replacing a market-driven mentality with a genuine partnership philosophy.A revised financial framework does, however, form an integral part of the new accountability and governance arrangements and the new performance management framework, which underpin the operation of the unified NHS boards. The aim of the new framework, as described in Rebuilding our National Health Service, is to develop a whole system approach to financial management, accountability and planning which maximises the return on additional investment, simplifying the way money flows in the local NHS system and allowing greater flexibility for financial planning over the longer term.

The Executive is in dialogue with the British Medical Association in relation to the current concerns of doctors about the implications of Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

The remit of The same as you? Implementation Group is to: help to make all the recommendations of The same as you? happen; lead in planning and advising on the way forward; identify and recommend priorities for change, and advise ministers on how The same as you? is improving the quality of services and the quality of lives of people with learning disabilities of all ages, and their families.

The Health Education Board for Scotland currently produces publicity materials which contain information on the signs and symptoms of meningitis and which encourage uptake of immunisation against Group C infection. The Executive also sponsors voluntary organisations working in this field, which produce a range of materials to raise awareness of all forms of meningococcal infection, including Group B.