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 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.

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 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.

The information requested is not held centrally.

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.

The association between smoking and lung cancer is well known; 90% of lung cancer patients are smokers or ex-smokers. The Scottish Executive published Smoking Cessation Guidelines in 2001 and £1 million is available annually for smoking cessation services and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).Information and advice on the effects of smoking, symptoms of lung cancer and where to seek medical help is readily available from a variety of sources including, for example, well women and well men clinics, Healthy Living Centres, GPs' surgeries and hospitals. The Scottish Executive issued Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer in April 2002 to facilitate appropriate referral between primary and secondary care for patients whom a GP suspects may have cancer. The guidelines are also accessible to the wider public on the Cancer in Scotland website at www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/cancerinscotland.

All asylum seekers entering Scotland have a health check on arrival which takes account of their physical and mental health needs. Those who are considered to be at risk of tuberculosis after the initial health assessment, by virtue of symptoms, history or any likelihood of exposure, are tested and followed up within the local health care system. However, tuberculosis is not considered to be a major health hazard amongst asylum seekers and refugees when compared to other groups.

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.