Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question, S1W-29013 on 18 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Scottish Executive has on-going discussions with its agencies (Enterprise Networks and VisitScotland) about the development of direct flights serving Scotland. These discussions have not been restricted to any particular routes. We shall continue to encourage the development of more commercial and cost effective air services for the benefit of the travelling public and the Scottish economy.

Comprehensive guidance on the management and operation of such installations is available to NHS trusts in technical manuals produced by NHSScotland Property and Environment Forum.

The Health and Safety Executive guidance, Managing Health and Safety In Swimming Pools, states that:"Manual checking of the water by taking appropriate tests for disinfectant and pH levels, together with other chemical tests that are recommended by PWTAG (The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group), are a fundamental requirement for all pools. Some pools are fitted with automatic controllers that measure the amounts of disinfectant or the pH of the pool and then vary the dose rate in accordance with the readings. In a pool where these devices are working well and can be relied upon for their accuracy then manually testing the water before the pool is used, after the cessation of use, and one intermediate test may provide sufficient monitoring. In a pool where dosing is controlled manually, the pool should be tested prior to use and every 2 hours thereafter through to closing."

The requirement for and frequency of testing is a matter for individual hospitals to determine based upon risk assessments and governed by good practice arrangements.Some guidance is provided for example in Scottish Health Technical Memorandum 2027 which recommends water sampling at six-monthly intervals wherever bulk drinking water storage exceeds 1,000 litres and is supplied from the water undertaker.Frequency of sampling where given is provided for initial guidance only as the frequency will vary to suit particular sites, locations, design parameters and particular principles employed.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27555 on 13 August 2002.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to investigate research carried out in the United States of America concerning the drug Meclozine.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to carry out any medical trials involving the use of the drug Meclozine.Information on conducting clinical trials can be found on the Medicines Control Agency website www.mca.gov.uk.

The Executive has already given a commitment to provide a repayable grant to support the Glasgow Housing Association's investment programme in the early years.

As the result of a complaint contained in a Petition to the EU Parliament, the Scottish Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry provided a joint response to the European Commission as to why the transfer of certain assets to the Glasgow Housing Association did not constitute state aid. We have now been advised that the Commission has rejected the state aid complaint.