Chamber and committees

The Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS) represents a major change from the current Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (both of which operate across Great Britain). Development of information systems to support SFGS is a significant task and, to ensure that the systems are properly developed and tested, the Forestry Commission has recently announced that applications for SFGS will not be accepted until June 2003, after which the scheme should be fully operational. This represents a two-month delay to the original target date of April 2003, but the existing grant schemes are being kept open for an additional two months to minimise any inconvenience to the industry. The necessary changes to the Scottish Rural Development Plan have been approved by the EU STAR (Agricultural Structures and Rural Development Committee), as announced on 19 November.

The title reflects the consensus which emerged from those who responded on this matter to the Scottish Natural Heritage consultation. That consensus favoured the use of "Cairngorms" in the title of the National Park, to differentiate between the single peak and the mountain range. The issue of the title of the park was not one highlighted by the Rural Development Committee in its letter to me of 14 October conveying the views of the committee following its evidence-taking sessions.

The following table provides details of the cost of medical negligence claims over the last 10 years.

Financial Year	Total Award	Total Expenses	Total Cost
1992-93	£1,794,429	£277,558	£2,071,987
1993-94	£1,892,312	£252,290	£2,144,602
1994-95	£3,051,962	£342,016	£3,393,978
1995-96	£3,554,930	£569,043	£4,123,973
1996-97	£4,059,883	£535,621	£4,595,504
1997-98	£3,521,199	£623,936	£4,145,135
1998-99	£3,303,709	£653,383	£3,957,092
1999-2000	£2,955,357	£555,778	£3,511,135
2000-01	£3,925,462	£890,870	£4,816,332
2001-02	£6,462,315	£815,534	£7,277,849

There has been no comparison undertaken between compensation paid in these cases and what the levels of compensation may have been paid under a "no fault" health insurance scheme.There are currently no plans to alter the way in which compensation is claimed and settled for acts of possible clinical negligence. However, you will be aware that in response to the reports published earlier in the year, by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Church of Scotland, the Scottish Executive established an expert group to look at current compensation arrangements for patients injured by the NHSScotland. This group is due to report by the end of 2002.

The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) collects data from a sample of Scottish households on an annual basis. In the three years from 1999 to 2001, on average 7% of people living in rural areas said that they did not have a bus service.The Executive supports transport in rural areas through the Rural Transport Fund (RTF). This supports over 400 new or enhanced bus and ferry services and over 100 Rural Community Transport Initiative projects.

The Chief Medical Officer issued guidance to health professionals on 19 November 2002, which included advice on the care of patients who may have suffered a bite or an abrasion from a bat. It also confirmed that bats do not pose a serious risk to the general public or to pets and domestic animals. Bats are naturally timid and at this time are hibernating. The risk to the public is minimal unless they handle bats. Almost all bat-handling licences have been withdrawn by Scottish Natural Heritage.

The Scottish Executive does acknowledge the importance of milk as part of a balanced diet. An adequate calcium intake is essential for the formation of healthy bones, particularly in childhood, and dairy products, including milk, are a good source of calcium for children. Recognising the important part that milk can play, £380,000 a year is provided through the Health Improvement Fund as a top-up to the EC School Milk Subsidy Scheme to support the provision of milk in primary schools.In their interim report, the Expert Panel on School Meals devised Nutrient Standards for school lunches based on five food groups. They advised that school lunches should have at least one portion of food from the milk and dairy products group (which includes milk, cheese, yoghurt and milk-based deserts) and that milk as a drink should be available as an option at lunch time each day.There are also strong links between osteoporosis and physical activity and these have been considered as part of the work of the Physical Activity Task Force. The task force's draft report contains activity targets for children that are designed to promote good health.While many authorities provide free milk to some or all pupils, the decision on whether to do so is a matter for individual authorities. No data on an individual authority's policy is available centrally.

The Scottish Executive will continue to press the European Commission to allow further simplification of the subsidy schemes on such things as form filling, proportionality of penalties, inspection procedures and detailed scheme rules.

In addition to the recently completed £233,700 footway in Duror, the final section of footway at the War Memorial is currently being discussed with Highland Council and once agreement is reached this section will be programmed for implementation.The double white line system through Duror is due to be refurbished within the next few weeks and improvements to the visibility at Achindarroch junction are being investigated.Speed surveys are being undertaken at two locations within Duror and will be used to re-assess the need for a speed limit.Officials have contacted the Duror and Kentallen Community Council and a meeting will be arranged with them shortly to discuss these and other issues.

Improvement works, such as the provision of footpaths, are identified and carried out on a needs basis taking into account safety and operational issues and setting these within the budgetary restraints and competing priorities across the entire trunk road network. A feasibility study into the provision of a footpath between South Laggan and the Well of the Seven Heads store is currently being undertaken by BEAR Scotland Ltd. In parallel, liaison with relevant agencies will also take place and the possibility of alternative funding arrangements will also be considered.

Consultation meetings with industry interests throughout the UK are still taking place. Against that background we have advised industry that we shall accept written comments until the end of the year. Copies of responses received will be made available (except where respondents have requested that they be withheld) through the Scottish Executive library and the Parliament's Reference Centre in the New Year.