Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13073.

The number of consultant neurologists employed by the NHS in Scotland for the years 1995-99 is given in the table as broken down by health board area.

The median waiting times for a first outpatient appointment with a Consultant Neurologist, following referral by a General Practitioner, for the years 1993-94 to 1999-2000 were provided in my reply to question S1W-11227.

Consultant neurologists employed by the NHS in Scotland at 30 September by Health Board area in the years 1995-99

Health Board Area	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Argyll/Clyde	-	-	-	-	-
Ayrshire/Arran	1	1	1	1	1
Borders	-	-	-	-	-
Dumfries/Galloway	-	-	1	1	1
Fife	1	2	2	2	3
Forth Valley	1	-	1	1	1
Grampian	4	4	3	4	5
Greater Glasgow	14	15	15	16	17
Highland	-	-	-	-	-
Lanarkshire	2	2	2	2	2
Lothian	7	8	9	9	10
Orkney	-	-	-	-	-
Shetland	-	-	-	-	-
Tayside	4	4	5	4	5
Western Isles	-	-	-	-	-
Total	30	31	32	33	37

It would not be appropriate to seek a refund of any of the money paid to the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute for their report into the economic impact of a ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland. The conclusions contained in their original report were based on information supplied to the institute at the time. Once it became clear to the institute that the information supplied to them was incomplete they, quite properly, undertook the further work which resulted in the revised figures they have produced.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11733.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11733.

The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute has revised that section of its report on the economic impact of a ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland relating to the possible job losses amongst employees of mounted hunts, subscribers and followers. The institute did this of their own volition when it became clear to them that information which they had been given, and on which they had based their original assessments, was incomplete. A copy of the revised section of the report was passed to the Scottish Executive and has since been sent to the Rural Affairs Committee.

I am grateful to the institute for carrying out this further work, at no additional cost to the Executive, in the interests of providing the best possible impartial information with which to inform the debate on the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill. The Executive has no view on the conclusions in either the original report or the revised section.

I refer Ms Marwick to the answer I gave today to question S1W-11733.

This information is not available centrally. Health boards determine their prescribing policy on medicines, taking into account local needs and advice from their Drugs and Therapeutics Committees.

The Scottish Executive does not hold comprehensive information in relation to health boards' smoking cessation services. As indicated in Our National Health, a plan for action, a plan for change, we will be reviewing the availability of support services for people who wish to quit smoking. To this end health boards will shortly be asked to provide information about their smoking cessation activities.

The letter relates to a highly complex allegation of crime, which has been considered at length. A letter will be sent by 15 December.