Chamber and committees

The Arbuthnott Steering Group carried out an extensive review of the data, the methods of analysis and the results in response to the issues raised during consultation on the first report on Fair Shares for All. In particular, the method of taking into account relative deprivation was revised to improve its robustness and transparency and this led to some changes in the assessment of the influence of deprivation on each health board's relative need for resources. In addition, the method of assessing the influence of remoteness has also been strengthened. Other changes include updating the analysis to take account of data for 1997-98 which was not available when the earlier work was carried out.

Although Orkney's share of resources for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will be reduced under the new formula they will continue to receive a level of funding per head of population during the lifetime of this Parliament that is well above the national average. They will also continue to receive substantial increases in their level of funding which will enable them to develop and improve services for their population. In 2001-02 their funding for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will go up by 5.5%.

The Arbuthnott Steering Group carried out an extensive review of the data, the methods of analysis and the results in response to the issues raised during consultation on the first report on Fair Shares for All. In particular, the method of taking into account relative deprivation was revised to improve its robustness and transparency, and this led to some changes in the assessment of the influence of deprivation on each health board's relative need for resources. In addition, the method of assessing the influence of remoteness has also been strengthened. Other changes include updating the analysis to take account of data for 1997-98 which was not available when the earlier work was carried out.

Although Shetland's share of resources for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will be reduced under the new formula, they will continue to receive a level of funding per head of population during the lifetime of this Parliament that is well above the national average. They will also continue to receive substantial increases in their level of funding which will enable them to develop and improve services for their population. In 2001-02 their funding for hospital and community health services and GP prescribing will go up by 5.5%.

Details of the number of HIV cases to the end of 1999, both new and cumulative, can be obtained from the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) annual report issued in April this year. This can be located at the following web address:

http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/aidshiv/aidspdf/annualreport2000.pdf

I refer themember to the answer given to question S2W-2017. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

On 20 August, I announced the priorities for funding from the Scottish allocation of extra tobacco tax revenues. This included a doubling of investment to £2 million a year for the National Health Service in Scotland to help more people quit smoking, targeted at those living on low incomes.

The average cost per patient per week at the State Hospital is £1,346, based on 1998-99 figures.

Dundee Dental Hospital and School has defined budgets for the educational component of its activity. Resources both from the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council have increased in recent years over and above inflation. The Scottish Executive has no plans to reduce dental school allocations for education and will continue to allocate resources in line with present strategic plans.

Many educational organisations are involved in the education and training of the professions complementary to dentistry. Colleges of further education in Scotland make a considerable contribution to the education and training of dental nurses and dental technicians, and Edinburgh Dental Institute has a training course for dental hygienists. Therefore, whilst the Scottish Executive encourage all members of the dental team to be trained in the same environment where possible, education will continue to be undertaken in these centres of educational excellence, working in close liaison with the two dental schools.

The need for specialist dental services in Scotland is one issue within the remit of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Dental Workforce (SACDW). The number of dental specialists needed within hospital practice, community services and general dental services will continue to be monitored by SACDW.

Not under current arrangements. This is one of the proposals which the British Dental Association has made to the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.