Chamber and committees

The following table shows the number of reported road accidents where oil or diesel was present at the site. It is not possible to list these liquids separately.

Year	Oil or Diesel
2005	72
2006	81
2007	82
2008	88
2009	90

Note: Data prior to 2005 is unreliable due to changes which were made to the STATS 19 data collection system.

The UK Government''s proposal would create a range of minimum prices, typically in the region of 20 to 25 pence per unit of alcohol depending on the product. This means the retail price of drinks will not change and the policy will have little or no impact on deaths, chronic and acute illness and violent crime.

By contrast, a 45p minimum price would save 225 lives per year, reduce chronic and acute illnesses by 2,600 per year, reduce crimes by the same amount, and would generate a harm reduction value of £721 million over the first 10 years.

I am pleased to announce today that, following our review, the Scottish Government is now seeking the agreement of the European Commission for continuation of the Air Discount Scheme (ADS) from 1 April 2011 for a further four years.

The ADS provides residents of Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and North West Sutherland with a 40% discount on the price of their core air fares.

Our analysis concluded that:

Over three quarters of the population in the eligible areas are ADS members with around two thirds of those having taken advantage of discounted flights;

Over 40% of member users fly more than before the scheme was introduced, nearly 50% fly with the same frequency and 3% are new flyers, and

Those on higher incomes tend to use the scheme more frequently than those on lower incomes.

Over the next four years, we believe that the scheme can and will make further progress. Whilst the tendency for those on higher incomes to use the scheme reflects a wider pattern in air travel, we will consider ways to improve take-up amongst those in the lower income bands in the interests of fully achieving the scheme''s social aims.

With more general improvements in mind, our approach to the commission is also requesting the extension of the scheme to the people of Colonsay in recognition of the transport challenges they face. The Island now has an improved indirect link to Glasgow through the Colonsay/Islay air service and I am sure residents will warmly welcome this development.

As a scheme designed to facilitate a better level of social inclusion for individuals in the eligible areas, it is not intended to extend to business-related claims. Ministers have decided that these claims will not attract the discount in future and will shortly be writing to the main public bodies and private sector organisations in the eligible areas to confirm this decision.

People discharging oil or diesel onto a road can be charged with a range of offences depending on the nature and seriousness of the circumstances.

Under Common Law a charge of Culpable and Reckless can be brought against the accused. The case can be referred to various Courts depending on the seriousness of the offence. Cases that are referred to the High Court face an unlimited fine and sentence.

A person can also be charged under Section 100 of the Road (Scotland) Act 1984 with discharging anything onto a road that would damage the road. The maximum fine for this offence is £1,000.

Various charges can also be brought under the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The maximum penalty under the Regulations is a £60 fine.

The Scottish Government has provided significant funding for hepatitis C treatment, care and support services over the last five years. Under the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, which was launched in 2008, the clinical and non-clinical services (including care and support services through voluntary sector organisations) that are available to those on long term treatment have increased significantly.

The HIV Action Plan, published in 2009, aims to support people living with HIV through improved and co-ordinated treatment and care services. This includes the development of NHS QIS HIV Services Standards to ensure quality of HIV services throughout Scotland. Voluntary sector agencies have been fully involved in this process.

The Scottish Government recognises the contribution that the voluntary sector makes in assisting people with blood-borne viruses during their treatment.

The hepatitis C action plan specifically recognises the importance of care and support as part of treatment and that voluntary organisations can play a key part in this work.

The voluntary sector has a key role in supporting delivery of blood-borne virus services across the NHS. This is recognised explicitly in the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, which requires that each NHS board has or is affiliated to an Managed Care Network for hepatitis C. These networks comprise representatives of relevant specialists in healthcare and other stakeholder groups. The action plan is clear that these stakeholder groups include the voluntary sector.

The Scottish Government has provided £300,000 each year over the last two years to support national voluntary sector activity in respect of hepatitis C. This funding, which has been provided to Scottish Drugs Forum, The Hepatitis C Trust and Mainliners, is intended to enable these organisations to deliver specific and national projects which support the Hepatitis C Action Plan. At a local level NHS boards have also been provided with a specific allocation for care and support of those with hepatitis C and boards are free to invest this in voluntary sector providers if that meets their local needs. Some boards have used the money in this way.

Similarly, for HIV, the Scottish Government provides funding to support national voluntary sector activity. In this financial year, this comprises £270,000 to HIV Scotland, as the key national umbrella HIV organisation; £50,478 to Waverley Care to promote the welfare and care of people affected by HIV, including working with people from Africa living in Scotland; and £9,000 to support the National AIDS Trust work in Scotland.

Each NHS board has, or is affiliated to, a managed care network (MCN) for hepatitis C. MCNs locally are required to develop care pathways for individuals affected by hepatitis C. The national generic care pathway for hepatitis C, which was developed under Action 3 of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, acknowledges post-treatment in the care pathway. This would normally include, for example, follow up with an individual following completion of treatment to assess whether or not there has been a sustained viral response.

Both hepatitis B and HIV cannot currently be cured and so treatment and engagement with services for both conditions will be life long.

The Scottish Government does recognise the significant contribution that the voluntary sector can make to educating the public regarding blood-borne viruses.

Through the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan the Scottish Government has directed £300,000 each year over the last two years towards national voluntary sector organisations. Much of this funding has been utilised to raised awareness amongst the public of hepatitis C, including the delivery of the Mainliners Hepatitis C Resource Centre.

The Scottish Government worked closely with voluntary sector partners in the development of the HIV Action Plan and input from HIV Scotland, the national umbrella voluntary sector agency for HIV continues. The voluntary sector has, and will continue to have, an important role to play in educating the public through increased awareness of HIV and a reduction in HIV related stigma and discrimination. The Scottish Government funding to HIV voluntary sector organisations will assist them to advance education and understanding of HIV in the public.