Chamber and committees

The Scottish Ambulance Service is in the process of gathering evidence about how priority-based dispatch is working in England, and is on target to report to me in 2001.

We have lodged an appeal against a recent judgement by Lord Macfadyen. We do not consider it appropriate to comment further.

Following the launch of Smoking Kills in December 1998, an £8 million drive to stub out smoking was announced for Scotland. £5 million was allocated over three years, commencing 1999-2000, for health education activity focussing on young people. £3 million was allocated over three years to health boards for smoking cessation services and Nicotine Replacement Therapy to be targeted at areas of social deprivation.

Smoking cessation has also been identified as a priority for investment from the £26 million health promotion fund. Health boards will be able to provide more practical support through the NHS for those people who want to quit smoking.

A Smoking Cessation Service for Glasgow was launched on 8 March 2000 to provide a comprehensive network of smoking cessation services. The disadvantaged will be a priority group. The service is co-ordinated from the Eastbank Health Promotion Centre, Shettleston and offers easily accessible advice and support to smokers who want to quit.

We are committed to increasing the number of doctors working in the NHS in Scotland, particularly in the area of cancer treatment. That is why I have recently announced a package of additional investment in the workforce which includes provision for 10 extra consultant posts, eight of which will be in the specialties of radiology and histopathology, and 100 extra junior doctors.

The Executive also met last year with representatives of the Royal College of Radiologists to discuss workforce issues and, as a result of this meeting, increased the number of posts for doctors in higher specialist training in this specialty from 71 to 76. Further increases in trainee numbers will be considered in the future to improve the balance of supply and demand in the coming years.

The latest information supplied by ISD Scotland indicates that there is an adequate supply of qualified radiographers to fill current establishment posts, as at 30 April 1999 only 0.9% of whole time equivalent posts had been vacant for three months or more.

There are many aspects of child healthcare which lend themselves to the Managed Clinical Network approach. There is no Managed Clinical Networks in any paediatric service at the moment, although the national Managed Clinical Network in cleft lip and palate has a strong children's component. The Scottish Executive would always be interested in considering proposals from clinicians for the development of such networks.

I refer to the answer to question S1W-9142.

All genetically modified crops that are being grown in Scotland have been scientifically evaluated to assess their safety in relation to human health and the environment. This independent assessment, which is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), includes the identification of any characteristics of the GMO which have the potential to cause harm. All the crops to be grown in Scotland have satisfied the stringent ACRE risk assessment.

Scientific monitoring and inspection arrangements are in place at all sites where consent has been granted to release genetically modified material. This monitoring extends to the locality where the release has taken place and includes post-trial monitoring programmes.

The following table illustrates the occupations covered by the Modern Apprenticeship frameworks in the engineering sector.

Framework	Occupation
Engineering Construction (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board)	Craft Pipe-fitter Plater Welder Steel Erector Mechanical fitter Technician Instrument and control technician Electrical maintenance technician Process controller Mechanical maintenance technician
Engineering (Engineering and Marine Training Authority)	Engineering technician Plater Welder Shipbuilder
Engineering Services (Engineering Services Training Trust Ltd)	Refrigeration engineer Heating and ventilation engineer Central heating engineer Service and maintenance engineer Ducting engineer Air conditioning engineer

I understand that Railtrack is committed under its Environmental Policy to comply with legal standards as the minimum and to apply a consistent set of principles for the stewardship of protected habitats under the company's care. This includes compliance with the relevant legislation such as Tree Preservation Orders and protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). I also understand that Railtrack is in regular contact with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and the water authorities concerning agreed sensitive areas where the types of herbicides used by their contractors in the management of lineside vegetation are restricted near watercourses, near water abstraction points and SSSIs.

At all times, Railtrack must ensure safety and efficiency on the railway network by maintaining the infrastructure. This includes keeping vegetation clear of track, signals, overhead cables and train movements. Neither Railtrack nor their contractors are statutorily obliged to inform residents of this type of work.