Chamber and committees

I have asked JamesHynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response isas follows:

This information isnot held centrally. However, information is held on the national average waitingtime from application to installation and is currently being reported by themanaging agent as being between five and six months.

The centralheating programme is a national programme and performance figures are collectedat postcode level as this is the most useful level of data for monitoring performanceto ensure that the programme is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.

I have asked JamesHynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response isas follows:

Information is notheld in the format requested. However, information is held on the national averagewaiting time from application to installation and this is currently being reportedby the managing agent as being between five and six months.

While there arecurrently no plans to commission specific research in this respect, we will beable to identify any changes in the number of 13 and 15-year-old smokers whousually purchase cigarettes from vending machines through the Scottish SchoolsAdolescent Lifestyles and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS). We will also examinethe scope for obtaining information about sales from vending machines by 16 and17-year-olds in a future Scottish Health Survey.

In 2006, 10% of 13and 15-year-old smokers who participated in the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyleand Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) reported obtaining cigarettes from vending machines.

It is too early tosay what impact there has been. However, we will continue to monitor reported salesfrom cigarette vending machines by 13 and 15-year-old smokers through the ScottishSchools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS). We will also examinethe scope for obtaining information about sales from vending machines by 16 and17-year-olds in a future Scottish Health Survey.

The ScottishGovernment currently has no plans to implement a ban on the sale of tobacco productsfrom vending machines. However, reducing the availability and attractiveness oftobacco products to young people, including through much more rigorousenforcement of tobacco sales law will be a key focus of the proposed five-year smokingprevention action plan to be published next spring. The law currently makesprovision for a court order to be made stipulating precautions to be taken bythe owner or operator to prevent vending machines being used by under 18s or,if necessary, for the machine to be removed altogether. In developing ourproposals we will consider what more can be done within the existinglegislative framework to reduce illegal sales from vending machines.

This information isnot held centrally, however, we are aware of issues within neonatal services, andare currently carrying out a comprehensive review of this service, through a dedicatedneonatal sub-group of the Maternity Services Action Group. The Scottish Governmentwill give full consideration to the findings and recommendations of the report whenit is published.

No neonates were transferredto England as a result of lack of beds, staffing or facilitiesin Scotland in each of the last three years.

The provisional informationavailable is shown in table 1.

Table 1: AverageAvailable Staffed Cots in Neonatal Units; by Health Board Area #: Year Ending31 March 2007^P

Ayrshire and Arran	24
Borders	8
Dumfries and Galloway	12
Fife	18
Forth Valley	22
Grampian	38
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	102
Highland	13
Lanarkshire	22
Lothian	58
Tayside	18

Source: ISD(S)1, ScottishHealth Service Costs.

^PProvisional.

Note: # Eleven NHSboards are shown, the remaining three, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles, do nothave neonatal units.