Chamber and committees

As Mr Morgan will be aware, I wrote to him on 5 January addressing Mr Webber's concerns on care arrangements for people with dementia. I regret the delay in responding. I will be writing shortly in relation to Mr Morgan's further letter of 1 February relating to similar matters.

There are 121 farm businesses which appear to be have been subject to double counting of ewes resulting in double payment of approximately £500k under agri-environment schemes.

The matter of planning jurisdiction for the South Pier at Cairnryan is, in the first instance, for Dumfries and Galloway Council, as planning authority, to determine.

The decision on divulging patient information needs to be taken by those involved in the care of the individual. The Code of Practice on the Confidentiality of Personal Health Information makes clear that personal health information should not be divulged without the explicit consent of the patient. There are exceptions to this general principle. These include circumstances where there is a "need to know" so that effective treatment and care can be provided; where it is in the wider public interest to disclose or where the information is necessary to prevent serious injury or damage to the health of a third party. That judgement is a matter for clinical decision. All of the principles set down in the Code of Practice have to be followed by all NHS staff and the staff of the Scottish Ambulance Service with their vital contribution to front-line patient care are no different in that respect.

The difference in cost is attributable to the longer length and more extensive works applicable to the Harthope Viaduct to Coatsgate section. In this case new carriageway construction was required to support the cycleway. Within the Millbank to Parkhead section the cycleway was formed on the disused carriageway of the old A74.

The average percentage of HGV traffic on the section of the A76 between Dumfries to Cumnock is 19%, 14% on the A75 between Dumfries and Stranraer and 14% on the A77 between Stranraer and Girvan. The average percentage for all Scottish major routes (i.e. trunk roads and principal roads) is 9%. The average percentage for all Scottish trunk routes is 12%.

The enforcement of the regulations pertaining to the use of red diesel is a reserved matter.

The responsibility for the safety of children during journeys to and from school will depend on the circumstances of particular pupils, the journeys they may have to make and the means by which those journeys are undertaken. In many circumstances authorities, parents and pupils themselves will share some responsibility. When authorities make provision for transport under Section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, they, and the transport operator will have a general duty of care towards those pupils.

It is for the Chief Constable, in consultation with his police authority, to determine staffing levels in the light of the budget set for the Force.

The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) began a review of the thirty month rule in November 1998. The Committee's conclusion, announced on 22 December 1999, was that no change should be made at this time as it may reintroduce an unacceptable level of risk. The Committee also recommended that the existing controls continue to be rigorously enforced, but that it will continue to keep the position under review. This advice has been accepted by the Executive.