Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23147.

Island NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts have the power to assign violent patients to the doctor who has the most appropriate facilities. In addition, we issued a circular to boards and trusts on 17 December 2001 on addressing the problem of violent or aggressive behaviour by patients in general practice. The circular requested boards and trusts to put in place local action plans for combating violence by 30 June 2002. It also provided advice on what action plans might contain, including mechanisms for providing services to violent patients and support for general practitioners undertaking home visits or surgery consultations where there is reason to believe there is a risk of violence.

The issue was explored in depth by the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on the Health of Older People, and forms a chapter in its report Adding Life to Years, published last month. The report concludes that while there is no systematic evidence of ageism in NHSScotland, there are significant concerns about ageism, and these need to be addressed. The Executive is now considering implementation of the recommendations in the report on this and all the other issues it addressed.

We have been considering carefully the extent to which Scottish firms are able to access venture capital investment in the current market. It seems clear that some firms continue to face difficulties in accessing small-scale, early-stage equity, and I am announcing today our intention to set up a new venture capital fund of funds to address this equity gap. To establish this, over the next three years a total of £20 million will be made available from my department's Regional Selective Assistance budget. The fund of funds will support a number of new private sector equity funds in Scotland making small-scale investments - mainly up to £250,000 (but up to £500,000 where justified).

I have considered carefully the report which was presented to me in December. I fully accept the key recommendations of focusing more on growing Scottish firms and more support for quality projects. A full copy of the report and my response is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

The Scottish Executive has had a number of useful discussions with Railtrack and the administrators about a wide range of issues, including the Scottish rail enhancement projects. Further meetings are planned.

Occupational health and safety is a reserved matter.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has already outlined to the workforce its plans to take action as a result of its study into cancer at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock. HSE will also seek the approval of the workforce for a detailed protocol, when it has been developed.There is a dedicated helpline for workers and ex-employees, to help them to contact HSE directly with their views and concerns. There will be regular direct contact with the workforce by HSE as further work is progressed.

Occupational health and safety is a reserved matter, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has already initiated the planning of follow-up work to look more closely at individual employment and exposure histories in relevant current and former workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock. This further research will seek to establish cause. The Scottish Executive has already indicated a willingness to help design and complete that research, particularly as it will have to take into account factors unrelated to work. HSE will also encourage all semiconductor companies operating in the UK to initiate studies of their workforces.

The Scottish Executive recognised that NHS staff throughout Scotland, particularly GPs in and around Greenock, might be consulted following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive's report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock. As such, the Scottish Executive ensured that they were aware of this study, and had the information they might need to deal with specific concerns or symptoms presented by patients.NHS Boards do not need to make special arrangements for healthcare delivery based on this report. Cancer in Scotland, published in July 2001, sets out a comprehensive range of measures designed to provide swifter, better diagnosis, treatment and care.

Occupational health and safety is a reserved matter. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) now plans to undertake follow-up work to look more closely at individual worker histories at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock. The Scottish Executive has already expressed a willingness to help with that research, which will have to take account of factors unrelated to work. HSE will also encourage all semiconductor companies operating in the UK to initiate studies of their workforces. Again, the Scottish Executive will support that work, appropriately. The Scottish Executive is committed to working with the industry, through Scottish Enterprise and Electronics Scotland, in order to ensure the long term sustainability of the electronics industry as a whole in Scotland.