Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22733.

Firearms policy and legislation are reserved matters. However, the Scottish Executive is represented on the Firearms Consultative Committee, the independent statutory body established to keep under review the working of the provisions of the Firearms Acts and to make recommendations to the Home Secretary for improving their working.The latest published statistics for Scotland on gun-related crimes and deaths show a marked downward trend between 1991 and 2000. Final figures for 2001 in respect of crimes and offences recorded by the police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used will not be published until September 2002. It is difficult to comment substantively in advance of that but any increase would be deplored. As regards the circulation of illegal weapons, the police and other enforcement agencies continue to put significant effort into tackling this.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20764 on 4 February 2002.

NHS local management has advised that:all clinics currently serviced by consultants based at the Beatson have been reviewed. Over the next six months, prior to substantive appointments being made, interim arrangements will be put in place so that new patients will be a priority to be seen at outreach clinics taking place within their local NHS board area;there is no formal waiting list for medical oncology and it is not envisaged there will be an impact on this, andradiotherapy waiting times are currently reducing as the new machines funded by the Scottish Executive come on stream. I am pleased to confirm that the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues and it is hoped this downward trend will continue. Two new, additional, linear accelerators are expected to be commissioned during the course of 2002.

The Scottish Executive regards the report on the use of police stop and search powers as an important contribution to the understanding of police practice in this area. While the findings provide reassurance that the powers are being used appropriately, they also identified areas of concern including anecdotal evidence that minority ethnic and white youths appeared to be alienated from the police. We are, therefore, together with the Scottish Police Service, carefully considering the findings and recommendations in order to determine what action is necessary.

Chief Constables both individually and collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are providing diversity awareness training, guidance and support to create a climate which will enable officers to engage with confidence and in an appropriate manner with members of minority ethnic communities.

I expect the review to conclude in the spring of 2002.

This is primarily a matter for Chief Constables to consider. However, under the direction of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Police Service is considering the research findings and what improvements it could make to improve its practice, particularly in regard to young people.

Interim arrangements for the provision of oncology clinics in the west of Scotland serviced by the Beatson Oncology Centre consultants were announced by NHS Greater Glasgow on 18 January 2002. These arrangements seek to ensure that services for patients with newly diagnosed cancer, and those with recurrence of active disease, are preserved and importantly, that the timescale within which these patients are seen will not lapse.The central role of the National Waiting Times Unit is to ensure that the Scottish Executive's policy of acting to reduce waiting times and to achieve waiting times targets across the patient's journey of care is implemented successfully by NHSScotland. Patients are not currently experiencing waits for treatment at the Beatson which exceed targets and guidelines. There is no waiting time for chemotherapy treatment, and at present, radiotherapy waiting times are approximately four weeks - a reduction from seven to eight weeks over the past year. It is hoped that further waiting times reductions will be delivered as the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues, with a further two additional linear accelerators in place during 2002.

I announced on 6 December 2001 that Dr Adam Bryson, would take over as Medical Director of the Beatson Oncology Centre to provide greater impetus and focus to implementing the agreed Action Plan. Dr Bryson is reporting directly to Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow, but the Executive is keeping in close touch and monitoring the situation.