Chamber and committees

The steering group on autism will guide the implementation of a strategy for research in line with the recommendations of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Autism Review. A key element of this review was the dialogue with stakeholders, including consumers. This process will continue and is reflected in the terms of reference for the steering group which include "to facilitate consumer involvement in taking forward this strategy and in the dissemination of research findings". As part of this process, the MRC will hold a meeting in April 2003 which will involve parents, carers and scientists, and will be organised jointly with the National Autistic Society. The steering group itself includes two lay people, one of whom is the parent of sons with autism. The steering group will continue to seek advice from all relevant stakeholders.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Scottish Executive officials have held initial discussions with officials in the Department for Work and Pensions on issues relating to benefits, and barriers to employment, for people with learning disabilities. On-going discussions aim to explore possible measures to improve support for people with learning disabilities seeking employment.

The same as you? does not set out a timescale for implementing each of the 29 recommendations, although the National Implementation Plan set out in Appendix 2 sets some target dates. We made it clear when The same as you? was launched in May 2000 that it sets out a programme of change over 10 years.

In accordance with its remit, The same as you? Implementation Group advises ministers on progress with implementation of the review's recommendations. Ministers for Health and Community Care receive regular written and oral reports from officials. I will also attend meetings of the group to discuss progress.

Fluoride is a chemical with many different uses. Because of this, products containing fluoride are controlled under many different regulatory schemes according to the purpose of the product. As an example of this fluoride can be found in products used by human beings as medicinal products, food supplements and cosmetic products. According to records held by the Medicines Control Agency there are 51 licensed medicines containing fluoride as an active substance and a further two which contain fluoride as an excipient.

The York Review (http://www0.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/summary.pdf) considered all relevant and robust research on fluoridation and concluded that water fluoridation reduces levels of decay and that, apart from an increase in dental fluorosis (mottling), there are no associated adverse effects on health.

All asylum seekers entering Scotland have a health check on arrival which takes account of their physical and mental health needs. NHS Greater Glasgow, which has received the majority of asylum seekers, has established a dedicated mental health support liaison service headed by a psychologist which is responsible for the assessment of asylum seekers as they enter Scotland. The service is part of a multi-agency asylum seeker and refugee team and is involved in training frontline staff both within hospitals and community-based services. Health visitors and the primary care team are well placed to support the mental health needs of their patients which include support and advice for families under stress.

The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency.European and American regulatory authorities have recommended that vaccine manufacturers should phase out their use of thiomersal wherever possible as a precautionary measure. Manufacturers are actively developing research programmes to replace or reduce the level of thiomersal in vaccines. This may take time because the manufacturers are required to ensure that the replacement or elimination of thiomersal does not affect the safety or efficacy of the final product.

Information on the number of vacancies for clinical psychologists in NHSScotland is not centrally available. The latest information on the number of unfilled vacancies in NHSScotland for consultant psychiatrists in all disciplines is contained in the following table.Consultant Vacancies Existing in Psychiatry in NHSScotland at 30 September 2001 by Specialty

		Establishment	Total Vacancies	Total Vacancies as % of Establishment
Psychiatric Specialties		441	29	6.6
Child and adolescent psychiatry		63	4	6.3
Forensic psychiatry		26	2	7.7
General psychiatry		249	12	4.8
Psychiatry of learning disability		27	2	7.4
Old age psychiatry		64	8	12.5
Psychotherapy		15	1	6.7

Note:These data are released under national statistics.The establishment figures comprise of staff in post plus total vacancies.Information is provided on posts vacant at 30 September 2001 irrespective of when the vacancy arose. The data include honorary appointments.Information for September 2002 is not yet available.