Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is committed to improving all aspects of quality in how drug treatment is delivered in Scotland.

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, is currently leading an independent expert group to gather evidence on opiate replacement therapies used to treat people with drug addiction in Scotland (announced in October 2012). The Group is due to report its findings in the next few months.

Any individual or group can propose a SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network) guideline at any time: http://www.sign.ac.uk/about/introduction.html. For a topic to be suitable for the development of a SIGN guideline there must be evidence of variation in practice which affects patient outcomes and a strong research base providing evidence of effective practice. In addition, the potential benefit to patients must be sufficient to justify the resources invested in the development and implementation of a SIGN guideline. A decision on whether SIGN should be asked to consider a guideline on recovery from opiate drug addiction will be made following the report from the independent expert group.

The Scottish Government has also committed to revise the 2006 National Quality Standards for Substance Misuse Services through the development of an Alcohol and Drug Quality Improvement Framework. This Quality Improvement Framework is the focus of the next stage of delivery of the Road to Recovery Strategy and builds on recommendations within the Quality Alcohol Treatment and Support Report (2011) - making sure quality is embedded across all services in Scotland: quality in the provision of care, treatment and recovery services; and quality in the data that will evidence the medium and long term outcomes of people in recovery. The Quality Improvement Framework will drive further improvements setting standards of care, which will be measured by quality indicators of recovery.

Quality standards, improved data and evidence, and planning and reporting requirements will all contribute to an effective Recovery Orientated System of Care delivering an integrated approach to service planning, commissioning, design and delivery focused on individual needs.

The funding arrangements were agreed in 2003 following the decision by the then Scottish Executive to promote the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as a trunk road in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils. These arrangements recognise the relative local and national benefits of this vital scheme for the North East.

Similar joint funding arrangements were successfully used on the recently completed M74 through Glasgow where local authority partners contributed towards the project.

The Forth Replacement Crossing is a vital strategic transport link for Scotland as a whole, including the North East and this Scottish Government is committed to delivering this major project to time and budget.

A survey of the business community in Fife, Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Forth Valley has shown that the potential for future traffic delays and disruption caused by major maintenance works on the existing Forth Road Bridge, which would require intrusive traffic management over a sustained period, could potentially result in economic output falling by around £1 billion, a drop in turnover in excess of £1.3 billion and the loss of around 3,200 jobs.

At its peak the project will directly support 1,200 jobs and the Chambers of Commerce estimate that the Forth Replacement Crossing will deliver economic benefits worth around £6 billion to Scotland’s economy.

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will provide substantial benefits nationally and across the whole of the North East and will provide a boost to the economy; increase business and tourism opportunities; improve safety; cut congestion as well as increasing opportunities for improvements in public transport facilities.

Nationally, the wider economic benefits are assessed as being around £3.5 billion over the 30 year period and it is estimated that 600 jobs will also be created as a result of the project.

In the North East of Scotland, over 14,000 jobs are expected to be generated over the first 30 years after the scheme opening and it is anticipated that the AWPR project will generate over £6 billion additional income, reducing costs to businesses and providing opportunities for increased sales through greater connectivity of Scotland’s infrastructure.

Construction work will create up to 900 jobs directly with the potential to generate many more for the local supply chain and subcontracts.

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is vital to the North east economy creating about 14,000 new jobs and bringing an additional £6 billion to the local economy over the next three decades. When completed it will form part of Scotland’s trunk road network connecting major cities, towns, ports and airports.

The critical importance of the Forth Replacement Crossing is recognised by its inclusion within the current National Planning Framework for Scotland, which is used to designate certain projects as national developments.

A copy of this information has been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 54798).

A copy of this information has been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 54797).

NHSScotland is already operationally independent, and the Scottish Government’s White Paper for independence, including in relation to Health, will be published in the autumn of this year.

The specific information requested is not available centrally.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

13 March 2013

Index Heading: Finance

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions and (b) meetings ministers have had regarding the impact of independence for holders of Premium Bonds.

(S4W-13095)

John Swinney: Ministers have to date had no discussions or meetings regarding the impact of independence for holders of premium bonds.

Premium bonds are currently a liability of the UK government. Issues about dividing assets and liabilities are important and will fall to be negotiated between the two Governments following a yes vote. The Scottish Government is committed to achieving a fair and equitable settlement.