Adverse reactions known to be associated with combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines and contraindications for MMR are listed in the product information for the MMR products. These are also described in the report of the MMR Expert Group as well as in Immunisation Against Infectious Disease, published by the health departments, and are detailed in materials for parents, such as The MMR discussion pack. In many cases, as with most medicines and vaccines, the risk factors for the development of adverse reactions to MMR vaccine are not known. The safety of MMR vaccines is kept under continuous review by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). Any new research that may emerge in relation to possible immunopathological risk factors for adverse reactions to MMR vaccines would be carefully reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, MCA, and CSM.The MMR Expert Group recently recommended that the Scottish Executive and the Medical Research Council (MRC) should work together to drive forward and fund, as appropriate, the full research agenda outlined in the final chapter of the MRC Review of Autism Research. My response to question S1W-25472 on 30 April 2002 made clear that the Executive accepts that recommendation and will also work with researchers in Scotland to develop proposals for innovative, high quality research to underpin improvements in treatment and care for people with autistic spectrum disorder.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service offers addiction services to prisoners with the exception of sex offenders whose broader needs are dealt with in other ways. An assessment is completed for each prisoner. Clients can be referred at admission or at any time during their sentence. The covers health, finance, housing, education and employment. Following client assessment a multi-disciplinary case conference/care planning process evolves involving the client. Addiction teams are multi-disciplinary. The care plan is reviewed and monitored as the client progresses through their sentence. Prior to release transitional care for those serving less than four years becomes a priority. Transitional care action planning and case conferencing commences to establish an individual plan prior to the clients release back in to the community. Figures for March and April 2002 show that 1,524 prisoners have been offered an individual assessment with 1,224 prisoners taking up the service.

Following on from the answer given to question S1W-23850 on 20 March 2002, the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group continues to explore areas of shared interest and concern to the Health Department, NHSScotland and the pharmaceutical industry. The specific issue of a research and development partnership with the pharmaceutical industry is under consideration.

The following table presents the information available on deaths involving epilepsy. It is not possible to say how many of these deaths were sudden and unexpected.Epilepsy deaths¹ in Scotland

	1997	1998	1999	2000	20012
Epilepsy recorded as underlying cause of death	99	99	115	99	113
Epilepsy mentioned on death certificate, but not recorded as underlying cause of death	190	180	183	198	179

Notes:1. For years up to and including 1999, ICD9 codes 345.0 - 345.9; for years from 2000, ICD10 codes G40.0 - G41.92. Data for 2001 are provisional.

The recently published Tourism Framework for Action 2002-2005 contains actions to promote the VisitScotland Food Quality Assurance scheme and encourage greater uptake of home produced food and drink within the service sector. We have also commissioned research to look at further opportunities to develop the links between the food and tourism industries.

It is the Executive's policy to encourage the development of managed clinical networks where patients and health professionals believe they would lead to improved services for patients. Proposals for pilot managed clinical networks for epilepsy are currently being developed in different parts of Scotland. The Executive has made it clear to Epilepsy Action Scotland, and the neurologists with whom they are working, that we would be willing to consider bids for pump-priming funds to help with the development of such managed clinical networks.

Local partners - Highland Council, the local enterprise companies and the area tourist boards - are working with Scottish Natural Heritage, VisitScotland and Paths for All to actively develop opportunities for increasing the tourism potential of walking in the Highlands.

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the programme of audits of ports in April 2001 was undertaken to help inform policy development on the issue of illegal importation of food products of animal origin. The board of the Food Standards Agency subsequently agreed, at its meeting in October 2001, that agency officials should explore a number of proposals to improve controls on imported food at ports. The agency has also been involved in the development of the Government Action Plan on illegal imports, published by Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the end of March, as were devolved administrations. The information from the agency's audit programme will inform on-going work in this area.

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there have been no reports by local authorities in Scotland of illegal imports of meat found in food premises following routine inspection.

This is already happening. Nicotine Replacement Therapy is dispensed free to patients with an NHS prescription if they are personally exempt from payment of the NHS prescription charge. Emergency Hormonal Contraception is dispensed free to patients with an NHS prescription.