Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive was not asked for a view on this campaign which I regard as being ill-informed and irresponsible.

Access to NHSScotland secure private networks is permitted only to authorised users. Authority to access is given under an auditable Code of Connection which operates under strict criteria to protect the integrity of NHSScotland networks and information systems. Access by unauthorised parties to NHS networks is prevented by firewall facilities which screen attempted accesses to the network and reject those that are not authorised. Authorised users who gain access to the network cannot then obtain access to any information system without satisfying the access protocols for the individual information system and this would include systems containing individuals' medical records. Smartcards are not used in any way to access NHSScotland secure networks.

The Scottish Executive published a report entitled A Focus on Quality in December 2000 which details the initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health care provided in Scotland, and the roles of the various organisations involved in clinical effectiveness activities in Scotland. These organisations include the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, the Health Technology Board for Scotland, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and the Clinical Resource and Audit Group. Copies of the report were placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.Following a commitment in Our National Health, further work is under way to map out the relationships between these national organisations, with a view to achieving better integration and co-ordination of all relevant bodies with an interest in clinical quality. The Chief Medical Officer is leading this work.As a result of a further commitment in Our National Health, the Chief Medical Officer asked Professor David Lawson to work with the Health Technology Board for Scotland and with local area drug and therapeutic committees on further steps to remove inequities in prescribing practice across Scotland. As a result of this, discussions are ongoing about local area drug and therapeutic committees working together as a Scottish Medicines Consortium.

It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine the level of funding required for investment in the improvement of facilities for clinical research, and the need for new dedicated facilities, from within available resources.The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department does, however, play a major role in supporting the research conducted in such facilities through its £31 million R&D Support Fund. For example, approaching £500,000 additional funding has been offered in the current financial year to the Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust to support the research being conducted in its Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility.

This information is not held centrally.

The Health Technology Board for Scotland does not only evaluate the cost of a drug or therapy to provide advice on Value for Money. It uses well-established techniques to create mathematical models to incorporate all the costs and benefits associated with the introduction and use of the therapy in a formal economic evaluation framework. The board is currently developing guidance for those submitting evidence in relation to such clinical and cost effectiveness analyses.

There is no evidence to suggest that a deficiency of selenium is a significant factor in the development of coronary heart disease in Scotland.

The SNH consultation report on proposals for a Cairngorms National Park is to be submitted to the Scottish Ministers on 13 July. Following consideration of that report we intend to bring forward a draft designation Order for consultation in late autumn.As this is a National Park we are committed to ensuring that all interest groups, organisations and individuals who wish to comment are provided with the opportunity to do so. The draft Order will be widely circulated, posted on the Scottish Executive website and made available to anyone requesting it.

Tourism businesses have already received substantial aid from the £13.5 million package of emergency relief announced on 28 March, and the additional £5 million made available to Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway on 10 May.Executive officials are now discussing with interested parties strategies for addressing the medium and longer-term effects on tourism.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15399 on 10 May 2001.We have now introduced amendments to our import controls which will facilitate the seizure of products where there is suspicion that they do not meet our import requirements.