Chamber and committees

The report of the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at York University was published on 6 October. Over 200 individual studies of fluoridation were reviewed, the most comprehensive review ever, but I understand none of the studies considered thickening of the blood. I have arranged for a printed copy to be placed in SPICe when available. In the meantime the report can be found on www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/fluores.htm.

A wide-ranging consultation document on children's oral health will be issued in the New Year. This will include options for fluoridation of the public water supply as well as other options such as fluoridated drinks and fluoride tablets. It will be circulated widely and allow full opportunity for individuals and organisations to express their views.

The total costs for publication, distribution and launch of the National Cultural Strategy were £75,000.

These local projects target the specific needs of the areas in which they operate. They reflect the approach being pursued by the Scottish Executive, in its drive to encourage an increase in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. The Executive's recent provision of resources from its £26 million Health Improvement Fund to all health boards is enabling them to work with local partners to introduce a range of initiatives, including the provision of fruit for infants in pre-school settings and fruit and salad bars and breakfast clubs in schools, each designed specifically to stimulate children's interest in, and consumption of, fruit and vegetables.

Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage only accidents.

The table below gives the numbers of road accidents which were identified in the STATS 19 returns as occurring on the A81 between its junction with the A891 at Strathblane and its junction with the A821 at Aberfoyle over the period 1995 to 1999 inclusive.

It should be noted that the statistics given below are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon its knowledge of the road and area concerned.

Year	Injury road accidents which occurred on the A81 between its junctions with the A891 at Strathblane and with the A821 at Aberfoyle
1995	8
1996	5
1997	19
1998	8
1999	10

The admissions process is nearing completion and UCAS figures indicate that the numbers of acceptances to Scottish institutions is 32,018, up 2.6% on the same time last year. No estimates of the costs requested are available centrally. No doubt institutions will be reviewing the outcome of this year's admissions process and considering the implications.

The cost of publication, launch and circulation of 5,000 copies of Improving Leadership in Scottish Schools was £33,546.85, i.e. a unit cost of £6.70.

I have formally met representatives of Community Learning Scotland (CLS) on three occasions since 1 June 1999.

On 1 October last year I attended a Board meeting to discuss a range of issues on community learning.

As my earlier reply made clear, the main thrust of the Scottish Executive's policy is to discourage smoking due to its detrimental effects on health. Non-smoking is the norm. Some staff may, however, wish to smoke so the policy offers a common sense approach by making limited provision for smokers as a concession. Information and support are available to staff who wish to stop smoking. The policy is consistent with Health and Safety Executive guidelines.

I apologise for not replying earlier. I have now written to Mr Monteith.