Chamber and committees

It is not yet clear what cost implications might arise for residential homes from the implementation of the National Care Standards. However before making any final decisions on the standards, the Scottish Executive is committed to consulting on the possible cost implications for service providers.It is proposed to carry out the cost consultation in two stages. Stage 1 will begin just after Easter and will focus on residential care services and, in particular, costs associated with recommendations on staffing ratios, room sizes and en-suite facilities. Stage 2 of the cost consultation will begin in late summer and will consider the costs associated with implementation of the full set of care standards.The Executive has also allocated £1.26 billion to local authorities for social work this year. This represents a 10% increase on last year. It is for local authorities to decide how best to spend these monies in the light of local priorities.

Although the Human Genome Project will lead to the sequencing of the human gene complement, it will require a great deal of further research before the actual function, and hence health implication, of each of the genes identified is determined. Research projects of this nature are currently under consideration in Scotland and other parts of the UK. We are therefore not in a position yet to use this knowledge to identify people in the general population who are susceptible to heart disease, cancer and diabetes unless they have one of the already known genetic forms.Meanwhile, comprehensive clinical and molecular genetic services are available in Scotland to identify at-risk individuals within families with recognised genetic susceptibilities.

Genetic (DNA) typing has the potential to allow drug treatments to be more accurately tailored to individual patients and help identify those patients most likely to respond to treatment or those most at risk of side effects. Although it is already in use for some cancer treatments, the technique is still very much a research tool and there are no current plans for the development of supporting systems in the form of smart cards or databases containing genetic information to enable electronic prescribing of treatment.

NHSScotland bodies are well aware of the requirement to achieve and maintain financial balance, and to have financial plans which support that objective. The Executive has made available guidance on the way in which these plans should be presented to give a clear indication of how financial recovery will be achieved, when that is necessary.

The farm scale evaluation programme is not designed to test the safety of the GM crop. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and scientific advisors on other statutory bodies have advised ministers that this crop does not pose a safety threat to human health or the environment. Without this expert advice, these crops would not be granted consent to be grown.The three-year farm scale evaluation programme, which began in 2000, is one of the largest ecological research projects ever undertaken and will provide valuable information on any effects that the practices needed to grow GM herbicide-tolerant crops may have on local biodiversity. The Scientific Steering Committee that oversees the programme has suggested that data from between 60 and 75 fields of each trial crop are required over the duration of the programme across the UK. It is the committee's view that this will provide sufficient data to enable significant conclusions to be drawn, taking account of the diversity of farm types and ecological conditions across the UK.

Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation (ECCI) is a Scotland-wide programme to ensure the development of electronic clinical communications between primary and secondary care throughout NHSScotland. By 2003 it is expected that extensive implementation of clinical communications will be in place, including:

• widespread clinical email
• co-ordinated referral information
• outpatient appointment booking - protocol-based where appropriate
• test ordering and results receiving
• discharge letters and summaries and clinic letters

information in support of shared care

As indicated in the answer to Ms Scanlon's question S1W-10403 there were 14 medical oncology consultants at September 2000. Of these, eight consultants held an honorary contract with the NHS and a substantive contract with a university or research organisation. For this, as for every other specialty, honorary consultants have a service delivery in addition to a teaching and research role, and there may well be NHS funding provided by local agreement. The position in medical oncology reflects the international standing of Scotland in research in this field, which makes a significant contribution to the quality of cancer services for the people of Scotland.In addition to the consultants, there are other doctors providing medical oncology services. 17 Specialist Registrars together with two non-consultant career grade doctors provide a high level of expertise, and Senior House Officers and Pre-Registration House Officers provide support.The clinical priority of cancer is also supported by clinical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, surgeons specialising in cancer work and a whole range of other specialist staff. Six additional consultants and a proportion of the additional 100 junior doctors announced in June last year will provide cancer services. The further 375 junior doctors I announced on 1 April will be allocated according to service needs and I expect a proportion of those to support cancer services.

Information is not held centrally in the format requested.

Evidence from midwife-led units around Great Britain suggests that, where there is a geographical imperative, community maternity units may be considered for low-risk women with a normal pregnancy. This may provide a model of care for remote and rural areas, offering a local service choice for women. The National Framework for Maternity Services, published in February 2001, recommends that every community maternity unit have a clearly established link - support, advice and transfer - to a consultant-led maternity and neonatal unit. Risk and contingency plans for referral and transfer should be fully discussed with every woman who chooses to use a midwife-led unit.

Our National Health contains clear commitments to ensure that high quality, nutritious food is available to all patients. The plan commits the NHS to implement the recommendations of the National Nutritional Audit and the relevant recommendations of Eating for Health - a Diet Plan for Scotland by April 2001. The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland will review local performance annually against these national standards.I expect the particular needs of those with a mental illness or any others who may perhaps be limited in their explanations or expression of preferences to be taken into account by staff as part of the whole person consideration that should apply in all cases.