Chamber and committees

The Department issued 543 grant approvals, for individual measures, in the last three months of the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) prior to its closure on 31 December 1999. These approvals brought the total number of approvals since 1995 to 5,337. All grant available under the scheme was committed by 31 December 1999.

The Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage are currently involved with a number of other organisations in strategic trapping of mink in the Western Isles. In addition, the Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage have commissioned a field study to assess the distribution of mink in the Uists and research into the possible options for future mink management in the Western Isles. Consideration of these reports will determine any further action.

Information collected from Registrations of Death shows cause of death and occupation of the deceased. According to this information, the numbers of farmers committing suicide in the three years in question were:

1997	13
1998	15
1999	9

The figures for 1999 are provisional, and may rise slightly if a death is subsequently found to have been a suicide.

Good progress is being made in negotiating, with the European Commission, proposals for a new Highlands and Islands Rural Development Plan drawn up by a partnership which includes the Rural Affairs Department, key public sector agencies, and representatives from the farming, crofting and landowning organisations in the Highlands and Islands. Further work is required on detailed scheme design, literature, domestic legislation and state aids clearance. It is hoped to open the new scheme for applications by the end of August.

The number of applications met under the new plan will depend on a range of things, including the value of individual applications.

As pledged in the Programme for Government, the Scottish Executive will substantially increase NHS spending in real terms over the coming years. The actual increases will be determined in the context of the 2000 Spending Review.

General Practitioners operate under terms of service set out in the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. These terms of service require General Practitioners to refer patients as appropriate for services provided under the National Health Service. The general practice is for health boards and NHS Trusts to develop local protocols with their clinicians on the arrangements for authorising referrals in and out of the health board area.

Levonelle-2, was launched in the UK in February 2000 and is available throughout Scotland but only on prescription.

The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is currently considering an application to re-classify Levonelle-2 from prescription-only to pharmacy availability, so that it can be obtained from a pharmacy without prescription. Careful consideration will be given to the risks and benefits on the basis of a thorough evaluation of evidence, to ensure safe use without medical supervision. Expert advice will be sought from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and there will be a period of public consultation before the MCA reaches a decision.

Information on measures to detect osteoporosis is not held centrally.

The Executive's continuing and active promotion of a healthier lifestyle, with improved diet, more exercise and no smoking, will contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis in addition to many other health benefits.

A report by the UK Department of Health's independent expert Committee on Toxicity, published in September 1999, did not give rise to any concerns over the health effects of CS spray which would cause the police service to stop using CS spray as an incapacitant, subject to the importance of adhering to operational guidelines for its use.

I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-4845.