Chamber and committees

We consider that the decisions regarding the West Loch Awe timber route are compliant with articles 4, 5 and 6 of the Aarhus Convention.

In total 75 members of staff were employed on the previous Gourock to Dunoon service – 61 by the David MacBrayne Group; four by Solent Wightline, who previously owned the MV Ali-Cat, and 10 by Argyll and Bute Council at Dunoon Pier.

Of the 61 members of staff employed by the David MacBrayne Group there have been no compulsory redundancies. Of this total 36 are still in employment by companies in the David MacBrayne Group, either within the wider Clyde and Hebrides ferries network, in shore based roles in Gourock, or on the new Gourock to Dunoon service. The remaining 25 staff chose instead to accept enhanced voluntary severance terms.

All four members of staff previously working for Solent and Wightline TUPE transferred across to Argyll Ferries Ltd when David MacBrayne Ltd purchased the Ali-Cat.

Of the 10 members of staff employed by Argyll and Bute Council, and after all possible options were exhausted, six members of staff opted for a redundancy package. However, in order to continue providing a service to the operator the Council have now advertised a further four temporary posts.

The West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route was agreed following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Local Community Councils were closely involved in the consultation process associated with this EIA. An alternative, lower, route has been suggested, but this would not be feasible because of difficult gradients and its proximity to infrastructure relating to a hydro-electric scheme.

The Scottish Government has received a range of representations regarding the availability of eculizumab to treat paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria which includes letters from members of the public, patient representative groups and parliamentary questions.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) operates independently from the Scottish Government. Further information about the SMC, including decisions reached about all newly licensed and orphan medicines, is available from their website: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) operates independently from the Scottish Government. Details about the nature of SMC processes and further information about SMC decisions are available from their website: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk.

NHS Boards and clinicians are expected to take full account of advice from the Scottish Medicines Consortium and Healthcare Improvement Scotland in the planning and provision of NHS services.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium assessed eculizumab for the management of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and published advice for NHSScotland in November 2010 that it was not recommended for use.

Information on the number of Individual Patient Treatment Requests (IPTRs) for eculizumab to treat PNH received; approved and rejected by NHS Boards is not held centrally.

The First Minister responded to Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council on 7 July 2011.

Only medicines recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) should be eligible for inclusion on the orphan drugs risk share scheme. The SMC does not recommend use of Eculizumab within NHS Scotland.

Any exceptions to this criteria would need to be agreed by the NHS Board Chief Executives Group collectively to be appropriate for inclusion in the risk share.

The information requested is not held centrally.