Chamber and committees

Provision of paediatric services at local level is a matter for the local NHS board in light of local priorities and needs. However, the Child Health Support Group (CHSG) visited the Grampian area in January to review health services for children, and to offer advice and support to the NHS board on developing child health services locally. In addition the CHSG Conference "Making Services Work for Children" was held on 27 February and highlighted areas of good practice in health services across the country.

The Scottish Executive meets BAA on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters including passenger numbers and air links serving Scotland. The Executive, in partnership with the Enterprise Networks, VisitScotland and the airport operators, will continue to encourage the development of more commercial and cost effective air services from Scotland for the benefit of the travelling public and the Scottish economy.

The Scottish Executive and its agencies are monitoring the situation closely and stand ready to assist both companies and their workforce as appropriate.

Information on the Warm Deal will be published in the Scottish Executive's next annual report, "Benefits from the Warm Deal in Scotland 2001-2002". The report will be available later in the year and copies will be sent to all MSPs. Details are not collected by local authority area.

Information on the Warm Deal is published in the Scottish Executive's annual report, Benefits from the Warm Deal in Scotland 2000-2001 (Bib. number 17363). Copies were placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre. Details are not collected by local authority area.

Contractors are not excluded from applying for contracts with the Scottish Executive but may be excluded at an early stage of the selection process. A short-list of firms to be invited to tender is compiled on the basis of an assessment of their suitability (for example, whether or not they have been convicted of any offences), their economic and financial standing and their technical capacity. The aim is to select suitable firms that, at the time, are considered best placed to carry out the required work. An assessment of technical capacity will usually include consideration of past performance including references provided by other clients.

As at 31 January 2002, there were 30 patients in the State Hospital who had been waiting for more than three months since clinical agreement was reached between the referring and the prospective receiving clinical teams that they could be safely treated and cared for by a local service.Nearly half of these patients are residents of and therefore the responsibility of Greater Glasgow NHS Board. The remainder come from five other NHS boards and from Northern Ireland. To identify the small numbers for these, health boards risk compromising patient confidentiality.The Executive made clear in 1999 its policy expectations for the creation of local safe services and accommodation for mentally disordered offenders. Different NHS boards are at different stages in developing the services in line with the policy. In October 2001, the Chief Executive of NHSScotland reminded the NHS boards of the need to make progress in developing local forensic psychiatric accommodation, services and support. Last month, Greater Glasgow NHS Board announced its plans for the development of local services for the area. Further announcements are expected in due course.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22399.

The Executive, in liaison with the other UK Health Departments, is keeping in close touch with developments on the European Court of Justice decisions in these two cases and further pending cases. The implications have not yet been fully evaluated.

Over the last five years, NHSScotland reported the following losses in respect of ex-gratia payments, compensation or other rewards:

	2000-01	1999-2000	1998-99	1997-98	1996-97
Total Value of Payments (£ 000)	8,849	5,865	6,239	6,707	7,541