Chamber and committees

The NHS in Scotland's approach to osteoporosis is through tackling life circumstances as set out in the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland, which was endorsed last year by the Scottish Executive. The Health Service is therefore aiming to prevent osteoporosis through a joined-up national policy based on promoting exercise, including the elderly, and stopping smoking and improving diet.Work is being taken forward as part of the Scottish Executive's comprehensive Public Health Strategy which will assist with osteoporosis prevention. All health boards are participating in this national Public Health approach.

The Scottish Executive is committed to recovering the costs of the repairs to the Erskine Bridge. Counsel has been instructed with a view to raising court proceedings against those considered to be responsible.

The following is the list of vessels of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency:

Offshore Patrol Vessels	Launched
Westra	1975
Sulisker	1980
Vigilant	1982
Norna	1987
Inshore Patrol Vessels
Moidart	1983
Morven	1983

No prisons are assessed as being drug free, as it would be unrealistic to deny the possibility of drugs being present. However, all of the prisoners at HM Prisons Castle Huntly, Dungavel and Noranside have undertaken to having nothing to do with drugs. Across the prison estate as a whole, around 34% of accommodation is allocated to those who reject the drugs culture, and this is expected to rise to around 40% by April 2002.

On 27 April I made a statement on the Executive's policy in respect of ferry services and I announced the publication of the consultation document Delivering Lifeline Ferry Services - Meeting European Union requirements. This sets out proposals for changing the current arrangements to comply with European law and options for tendering the routes currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. I made clear that the Executive is committed to maintaining these vital services to Scotland's islands and remote mainland communities and highlighted that we have the opportunity to set the framework for a coherent network of high quality ferry services which is well integrated with other transport provision. Responses to the consultation document are invited by 30 June.

There is no obligation to notify the Executive of local farmers' markets. I am aware of nine farmers' markets up and running in Scotland. These are located in Perth, Elgin, Ayr, Inverness, Skye, Tain, Aviemore, Forfar and Glasgow.

I believe another 10 to 14 are approaching the implementation stage.

The Executive has arranged for the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, as part of its grant-funded activity, to investigate the development of farmers' markets in Scotland, including the possible setting up of a Scottish Association of Farmers' Markets and the drawing up of guidelines. This work is currently underway.

We sought further comment on this recommendation as part of our post-McIntosh consultation exercise and have considered the responses carefully. There was almost unanimous support for the granting of such a power from local authorities, CoSLA and the Local Government Committee of the Scottish Parliament. Having listened to the arguments put forward by these bodies we are convinced that such a power - which might be better described as a power of community initiative - will stimulate new ideas and innovation in local government and will encourage joint working between local authorities and other bodies. It will help to provide a platform from which to develop a community leadership role for modern Scottish local government.

I am therefore pleased to confirm that the Executive will introduce a power of community initiative for Scottish local government in a future Local Government Bill in line with the McIntosh Report's recommendation. Our detailed proposals will be issued for consultation in due course. The consultation will consider the exact scope of the power. It is not intended that it should cut across the duties or powers of other statutory bodies.

The information requested is not available centrally.As part of the Health Improvement Programme process, health boards, working with NHS Trusts and other partners, have to plan and deliver services which meet the needs of their local population, taking account of national and local priorities and the clinical and cost-effectiveness of different forms of care and treatment. Health Improvement Programmes are currently being finalised and are available on individual health boards' websites.

The Scottish Executive has had no such discussions.