Chamber and committees

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The patient information leaflet on Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) was distributed to all general practices in April 2008 for display in surgeries. As a result of concerns about its availability, an electronic version was sent to general practices in May 2009 with a covering letter from the Chief Medical Officer asking for it to be displayed and also drawn to the attention of those considered by their general practitioner to be at particular risk of developing DVT.

This approach is an interim measure until the revised Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 62 on Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is published this October. SIGN will promote implementation of the recommendations in the revised Guideline by GPs and other healthcare professionals.

Under the direction of the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board, a small multidisciplinary clinical working group was charged with identifying clinical criteria to support a pilot service development to trial alternative wheelchair options in NHSScotland. This work is being taken forward by the five wheelchair centres on behalf of all health boards in Scotland. Its purpose is to evaluate the impact of dual controlled and attendant controlled powered wheelchairs for those users and their carers who may benefit from access to such equipment.

The Rehabilitation Technology Information System (ReTIS) website has published the inclusion criteria for the pilot at:

http://www.retis.scot.nhs.uk/groups/docs/scotretwc/ScotretCriteriaEPAC_14_10_2009.pdf.

Information for user and carers is also available from their local wheelchair provider.

Assessment of hospital patients'' risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are collectively known, has been advocated as part of the management of VTE since at least 2002, when Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 62 on Prophylaxis of VTE was published. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme''s peri-operative work stream builds on this by collecting data on the percentage of eligible surgical patients receiving DVT prophylaxis.

A revised version of SIGN Guideline 62 is due to be published in October 2010. We intend to work closely with SIGN to ensure that the Guideline and its recommendations are widely publicised and implemented throughout NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government and sportscotland remain closely involved in the implementation of the Youth Action Plan, meeting with key partners comprising the implementation steering group to discuss progress.

A review of Scottish football is currently being undertaken by Henry McLeish at the invitation of the Scottish Football Association. The development of youth football is being considered as part of the first phase of this review. The Scottish Government and other stakeholders will consider the implications for the Youth Action Plan in the review''s recommendations in due course.

The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Premier League about a range of issues including youth football.

Companies House are responsible for examining and storing company information delivered under the Companies Act and related legislation. The member may wish to take up any particular points on the submission of accounts with Companies House. More generally, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Greenbelt Group on a wide range of matters relating to land maintenance companies. On debt recovery, we expect the Greenbelt Group, like all other bodies, to follow the provisions of Scots law.

The stakeholders'' working group established to develop an accreditation scheme for property managers has met on a monthly basis since March 2009 and has made substantial progress, particularly in developing core standards, identifying effective options for third party redress and considering the potential for raising public awareness. This work has included ensuring that the core standards are applicable to land maintenance companies (including the land owning model).

I have asked the working group to review the approach being taken in the light of information and evidence gathered to date, to ensure that it remains the most appropriate for achieving the desired objectives for the property management industry. This matter will be considered at the next meeting of the working group.

The current level of access for Icelandic vessels to EU waters and for EU vessels to Icelandic waters is regulated both by the bilateral agreement between the EU and Iceland and by coastal states agreements made under the auspices of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC).

The future level of reciprocal access by EU vessels to Icelandic waters and vice versa is a matter for consideration in the wider context of Icelandic accession negotiations, which remain at a very early stage. Within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy, access to fisheries has historically been based on demonstration of a track record of fishing entitlement. Arrangements for granting fishing opportunities in the waters of any member state by another member state is decided on by the European Council of Ministers.

With respect to whaling, all cetaceans (e.g. whales, dolphins and porpoises) are fully protected in EU waters. Iceland would normally be expected to adopt existing Community legislation upon accession (the Acquis Communautaire). Within the context of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), EU policy is to support the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling outwith Community waters. We would expect the EU to object to any possible request from Iceland for a derogation from the IWC moratorium.

Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with their UK Government counterparts with respect to the full range of fisheries-related policy issues, including issues relating to bluefin tuna.

Management of this stock is regulated by the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and the EU has exclusive competence in the field of external negotiations with ICCAT. We expect the EU position on the proposal to ban trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna to be determined following discussions in ICCAT.

The Scottish Government supports the stance of the European Commission in attempting to develop appropriate management measures for the bluefin tuna stock through the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.

The Scottish Government encourages consumers to buy fish from sustainable sources, including those accredited by external schemes or organisations such as Seafish''s Responsible Fishing Scheme or the Marine Stewardship Council.