Chamber and committees

The Executive has no current plans to conduct a multi-modal study covering these sections of road. These are local roads and decisions on these matters are the responsibility of Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council, as the local roads authorities for the area.

The Executive made a commitment in our transport white paper, Scotland’s Transport Future, to carry out a two-phase review of the tolled bridges in Scotland. Phase One of the review, which included an examination of the effect that various changes in tolls on the Erskine Bridge would have, is complete and available on the Executive’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/enterprise/tobr-00.asp.Phase Two of the review is now underway. The terms of reference for Phase Twospecifically include an assessment of the impact that any change in tolls onthe Erskine Bridge would have on congestion and the local environment, in a way that achieves an optimum outcome without having a detrimental impact elsewhere in the local area.

The responsibility for the review of the NHS Superannuation Scheme in Scotland (NHS Scheme) lies with the Scottish NHS HR Forum (HRF). HRF have tasked the review to the Scottish Pensions Review Group (SPensiR).

SPensiR have today launched a public consultation on the review of the NHS scheme. The consultation document contains options and recommendations for a new NHS scheme for new staff, and transitional arrangements for existing staff.

The public consultation will run until 25 April 2005, and the consultation document can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/sppa. Copies havebeen placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 35022).

There is scope in the curriculum to address the issues of death and bereavement within the context of the National 5-14 Guidelines, principally in the guidance on personal and social development which is essentially concerned with the development of life skills. Decisions on what and how to teach rest with education authorities and schools in response to local circumstances.

The Scottish Executive has no information to suggest that issues relating to death and bereavement are specifically covered within teacher training. Continuing professional development courses covering social and personal issues include guidance on effective counselling skills.

The Abolition of Feudal Tenureetc. (Scotland) Act made provision for former superiors to preservecertain rights. The Scottish Executive is not aware that these are being used ina way which was not anticipated.

Yes. The Scottish Executive is currently considering a Code of Practice for International Recruitment for NHSScotland health care personnel.

The latest published data is derived from the medical census on 30 September 2003. On this date, there was an establishment of 21 consultant posts in palliative care, all of which were filled.

Since our Carers Strategy was introduced in November 1999, the Executive has worked, and will continue to work, in close partnership with national carers’ organisations and key agencies in order to address priority issues for Scotland’s 600,000 plus carers. This issue has not been highlighted for specific discussion within the context of our national Carers Strategy. At a local level, we expect individual authorities, NHS boards and the voluntary sector to work in partnership to ensure that appropriate support is provided to patients,carers and families at this particularly difficult time.

Our policy is that palliative care should be available to everyone who needs it. A number of Managed Clinical Networks are already in place to plan and provide palliative care services and they would be expected to ensure fair and consistent access to palliative care within their areas.

This information is not held centrally at present. However, work is currently underway to improve the quality of information we hold about health care workers.