Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government, in accordance with its response to the final report of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, plans to retain the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme within the Scotland Rural Development Programme, to take forward proposals to re-orient support towards registered crofters and seek EU approval during the 2009 modification process (a) to extend the scheme to the whole of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Area and (b) to amend the scheme to provide a 10% uplift in support to new entrants to crofting.

No amendments to Directive 91/414/EEC have yet been formally adopted. Negotiations are continuing at a European level, and we are taking active steps to influence the negotiations, for example by working with Scottish MEPs and by promoting Scotland''s interests in discussions to agree the UK''s negotiating position. One aspect which we are highlighting is the potential reduction in the availability of plant protection products.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18239 on 4 December 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The negotiations on the new Regulation to replace Directive 91/414/EEC have not yet been completed, and therefore no amendments have yet been formally adopted. In the course of the negotiations, a large number of possible amendments are being discussed. We are monitoring these on an on-going basis, in relation to the potential implications for Scotland.

Under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish ministers have an agency agreement with the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), who act on our behalf on certain pesticide matters. PSD have a formal structure of working groups in which they consult and involve relevant organisations on matters of current interest, and we receive formal views through that avenue. In addition, the Scottish Government has had direct informal contacts with NFU Scotland about the on-going review of Directive 91/414/EEC and the potential implications for Scotland.

People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, but type 2 diabetes does not necessarily result from the presence of insulin resistance. Some people''s insulin production will increase, and will continue to be sufficient to overcome their insulin resistance, thereby ensuring that glucose levels remain normal and type 2 diabetes does not develop.

Measurement of insulin is neither sensitive nor specific enough for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Laboratories which measure insulin in the United Kingdom or abroad do so as part of an investigation to exclude excessive insulin secretion in the context of hypoglycaemia. This allows the identification of the very rare but very important condition of insulinoma, a tumour of the pancreas.

People with type 2 diabetes may demonstrate raised insulin levels prior to raised glucose levels, but, as indicated in the answers to questions S3W-17935 and S3W-17984 on 2 December 2008, elevated insulin levels are compatible with a range of normal physiological states and are not necessarily a precursor to the development of diabetes.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17934 on 2 December 2008, which indicated raised insulin levels can be consistent with a number of normal physiological situations.

The evidence on issues related to screening and early detection of type 2 diabetes is set out in a Health Technology Assessment by Norman Waugh et al entitled Screening for type 2 diabetes: literature review and economic modelling published in May 2007 as part of the NHS R&D HTA Programme. It is available at www.hta.ac.uk

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of risk factors related to a state of insulin resistance. It is important to bear in mind, however, that insulin resistance can also be demonstrated in a range of normal situations, including during pregnancy or adolescence, and can be associated with the use of certain medications such as steroids. For these reasons, insulin levels are not currently used to diagnose pre-diabetes.