Chamber and committees

The organic honey sector cannot operate in isolation from other agricultural practices or the wider environment, particularly since bees forage widely. However, the environmental implications of all GM deliberate release applications, including the impact of foraging insects and bees, are fully considered by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) before consent is granted. ACRE and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes are satisfied that there are no safety concerns arising from the possible inclusion of minute amounts of GM pollen in honey.

The enabling legislation received Royal Assent on 9 August. The next steps in setting up our first Scottish National Parks are those set out in sections 1-3 of the Act. I am pleased to announce that today I am setting that process in motion by publishing National Park proposals, under section 2(1) of the Act, for National Parks in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and in the Cairngorms, and asking for a public consultation on these proposals.

I have decided to ask Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to act as a reporter, under the terms of section 3 of the Act, and to carry out consultations on both proposals. They have previous experience of consultative work on National Parks, leading to their advice to Government in 1999. This required extensive consultation with a wide range of organisations and individuals, and using a range of mechanisms involving both written documents and public meetings. The Requirements I am today issuing, directing them to undertake this work, set out clearly the particular requirements that a number of MSPs raised during the passage of the Bill, including that statutory consultees must receive copies of the consultation documents, that the consultation should be conducted in a participatory way, and that SNH must develop and report on the basis of objective criteria and methodology. Further details are given in the Requirement documents themselves. I am placing copies of these and the proposals in the Parliament's Information Centre.

Consultees can expect to hear from SNH shortly as they take forward the consultation.

I have asked SNH to provide written reports to me, on the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs proposal by 15 March 2001, and on the Cairngorms proposal by 9 July 2001. Both reports will be published, and laid before the Scottish Parliament. After that, I will consider the case for bringing forward a consultation draft of a designation order in each case.

Depending on the outcome of these consultations, I would hope that the first National Park in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs could be established on 1 April 2002, and the second in the Cairngorms by 1 January 2003.

The Scottish Executive has a number of road safety improvement schemes programmed for the A84 between Stirling and Lochearnhead. In addition, two other road safety schemes are also programmed on the A82 between Crianlarich and Tyndrum. The work involved within the current financial year is estimated to cost £265,000.

On wind-up of the Scottish Transport Group a Dissolution Order will prescribe to whom the group should pay the surplus funds remaining after tax and having made proper provision for future claims and liabilities. The Scottish Executive will bring forward such an Order for Parliament's approval in due course.

If body piercing is carried out in unhygienic conditions, local infections of surrounding skin and superficial tissues can be caused by a number of organisms. The possibility also exists that more serious infections including hepatitis B and C and HIV infection can be transmitted in this way. Where such infections occur it is not always clear what the transmission route has been. The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health is not aware of any cases in Scotland where it has been confirmed that a serious infection resulted from body piercing.

I refer to my answer of 12 May to question S1W-6002 from Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray).

A review of the JNCC will begin shortly and be overseen by a steering group involving officials from the Scottish Executive. In accordance with standard practice, the review will begin by examining the functions and structure of the JNCC before moving on, if appropriate, to look at performance issues. Detailed terms of reference are being drawn up. I expect the review to be completed by the early summer of 2001.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-7315.

A three-year programme is under way to establish widespread use of online electronic communications within the NHS. These systems and the associated clinical protocols will allow electronic communication of protocol-based referrals, immediate discharge letters, test results, outpatient appointment booking and support for shared care.

As part of this initiative, each healthcare organisation will consolidate their records of care to create an Electronic Patient Record. These will be in place, in early form, throughout Scotland by 2002.

Because of the volume of information and its complexity, it will take longer to develop Electronic Health Records which would consolidate information about an individual over time, across healthcare organisations, and cover health status, current medication and important health events.

As they become available Electronic Patient Records and Electronic Health Records will be accessible by authorised healthcare professionals under agreed clinical protocols, including those working in doctors out of hours services. Smartcards are one option for facilitating access to this information.

I refer the Member to the answer I gave to question S1W-7711 on 21 June.

In light of SEPA's guidance, I will consider what action the Executive should take on recycling targets.