Chamber and committees

I meet regularly with all NHS chairs to discuss matters of importance to health and the NHS in Scotland, most recently on 28 January. Health officials are also in regular contact with NHS Highland about a range of matters. The Minister for Public Health also met with the senior team of NHS Highland on 21 August last year when she chaired the board''s annual review. The board''s performance on key national health targets including health improvement, efficiency, waiting times and cancer care were discussed.

Life expectancy figures are normally calculated for a three-year period, to provide large enough numbers to ensure accuracy.

The latest life expectancy estimates area as follows:

(i) Life expectancy at birth for males living in Orkney between 2004-06 was 76 years and for females it was 81 years.

(ii) Life expectancy at birth for males living in Scotland between 2004-06 was 74.6 years and for females it was 79.6 years.

These figures, along with life expectancy information for all council and NHS board areas, are available from the General Register Office for Scotland website through the following link:

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/life-expectancy/life-expectancy-for-administrative-areas-2004-2006/index.html.

VisitScotland is responsiblefor promoting Scotland to potential tourists. The marketing aimedat fishing, which focuses on thequality of the wonderful fishing experience that is available in Scotland, is not specifically aimed at particular regions butpromotes the whole of Scotland according to types of fishing, of which angling isone of the most popular.

VisitScotland hasdeveloped a website (www.visitscotland.com/fish)that provides information on where to fish, what to bring and when to come for thebest chance of success. There is also information on permit availability for nearlyall of the main lochs and rivers in Scotland; some of whichmay be booked online. The information is divided into types of fishing rather thanlocations but does provide a regional listing of quality accommodation for visitors,making it easier for them to visit and book. VisitScotland has also produced anannual brochure on angling in Scotland that is mailed to over 30,000 people on theirdatabase with an interest in fishing.

In March, April andMay this year, VisitScotland will be promoting the quality of Scotland’s angling and fishing industry with full-page advertisementsin several specialised fishing magazines.

The Scottish Government has forsome time recognised the concerns about declining sea trout catches on the westcoast. Through our agency, Fisheries Research Services, the Shieldaig Sea TroutProject was set up in 1998 to address these issues. The project operates in partnershipwith the Loch Torridon Area Management Group, part of the Scottish Government’sTripartite Working Group, to identify the causes of the decline in sea trout numberson the west coast. The causes are likely to be complex and multi-factorial. Theproject is currently developing and testing restoration techniques. Improvementsin marine survival have continued, and results from the Shieldaig Sea Trout Projectfor 2006-07 saw increased numbers of mature fish returning to spawn.

The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries(Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 came into force on 1 April 2005. Threepersons were proceeded against in Scottish courts for offences under this act in2005-06, the latest year for which data are available.

Fishing rights are held as privateheritable titles and access is, therefore, controlled by the fishery owner. A draftStrategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries was published for consultationin September 2007, with a closing date for responses of 4 January 2008. Amongthe priorities for action contained within the proposals are examination of accessand protection issues, promotion of angling in Scotland and broadening social inclusionin the sport.

Inverness Sheriff Court has been progressively modernised over the years andcontinues to be fit for purpose. Following Court Unification the Scottish CourtService will acquire part of the North Tower adjacent to Inverness Sheriff Court and will programme refurbishmentwork to ensure our courts continue to be fit for purpose.

I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

During the last three years onecase due to be held in Inverness Sheriff Court has been held elsewhere. This wasa Fatal Accident Inquiry on 9 January 2008, which was held in Dingwall Sheriff Courtas a result of a heating system fault in the North Tower at Inverness Sheriff Court.No additional costs were incurred for the use of other premises as the case wasmoved to Dingwall Sheriff Court. There was no business planned in Dingwall SheriffCourt that day and therefore no cases were delayed as a result.