Chamber and committees

£33,200.

I refer Keith Harding to the answer I gave to question S1W-8350 on 12 July which dealt with publication costs. The launch was held in the Scottish Executive's Media Centre and the only cost involved was for tea, coffee and biscuits which was met centrally by Media and Communications Group.

Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. As noted in my reply to S1W-3216 (also from Mr Harding), workforce planning is an integral part of the planning cycle for the NHS in Scotland. To provide continuity of care for patients, specialist medical staffing is monitored annually to ensure appropriate numbers of doctors undertake higher specialist training in each specialty to be eligible for consultant posts becoming vacant.

This year's annual joint review by the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education has agreed that the number of Specialist Registrar posts in medical and clinical oncology should increase by five and seven respectively, bringing the totals to 17 and 23.

Later this year results will be available from the exercise commissioned by the Scottish Cancer Group to model predictive trends in cancer incidence over the next 10 years. It is envisaged that this will inform future service and workforce planning.

We are currently developing our Scottish Forestry Strategy. This will reaffirm our commitment to the UK Biodiversity Action Plans, including the Species Action Plan for capercaillie.The Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Deer Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Executive and voluntary organisations such as the RSPB have all been working together to investigate the main causes of the decline in the capercaillie population and to recommend what action should be taken now. This work has identified several causes of the decline.

The Forestry Commission has removed redundant fencing from its own land, and provides grants for private woodland owners to remove redundant fencing from their land. Working with partners, the commission ensures that applicants for grant aid erect any necessary fencing in ways which minimise effects on capercaillie, and is jointly developing alternative fence designs that minimise risk to capercaillie and other woodland grouse.

The Forestry Commission and other members of the Species Action Plan Steering Group, working with the Scottish Biodiversity Group, have also published advice on managing woodland to benefit capercaillie, and the Scottish Executive has supported the RSPB in providing guidance on minimising disturbance at lek sites.

The Scottish Arts Council's financial support to Variant is subject to their standard procedures and conditions of grant, which they apply to all allocations of SAC funds. The SAC carries out systematic monitoring at set stages throughout the annual funding cycle, which includes obtaining certified financial statements demonstrating that the recipients have fulfilled the purpose applied for and the grant conditions.

Copies of Better Homes for Scotland's Communities, published on 5 July 2000, have been sent to all MSPs, Scottish MPs and MEPs, to all Scottish local authorities and registered housing associations, and to relevant Whitehall departments. Copies have also been sent to all respondents to the 1999 Housing Green Paper, and to a wide range of other representative organisations and interest groups. In addition, copies have been sent out on request to individuals and groups, and the document is available on the Scottish Executive website. The total number of copies distributed as of 10 July 2000 was around 1,600.

4,000 copies of the report of Renewing Local Democracy Working Group were published. The report is also on the Internet and has had over 800 visits, it can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc16/rldw-00.asp.

The distribution list runs to 110 pages and I will write to the member separately with this.

Under The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland published in 1997, it is for health boards and NHS Trusts to plan and deliver an appropriate level of provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of people with psychological disorders based on assessed need. This includes psychological therapies for a wide range of emotional, psychological and psychiatric presentations, for example, as a result of trauma, assault, and childhood sexual or physical abuse. As such the information requested on support and funding is not available centrally but the Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Group, established on 31 March, will meet with all health boards and their planning partners to pursue implementation of the Framework agenda.

Also, research is being undertaking in conjunction with the Edinburgh Association for Mental Health which is looking at adult survivors of child abuse and their needs. The Scottish Executive is contributing to this and will consider the results in due course.

In addition, the Scottish Executive funds Victim Support Scotland to provide practical and emotional support to all victims of crime. Specially trained volunteers provide specific help to victims of rape and sexual assault, irrespective of gender.

I have asked Scottish Natural Heritage to consult interested organisations and provide formal advice to me on the recommendations in the UK Raptor Working Group by spring 2001. The Scottish Executive will give careful consideration to SNH's advice before responding to the report.

I recently announced my intention to publish a policy statement setting out proposals to better manage our natural heritage. This will include measures to tackle wildlife crime based on the work undertaken by the Scottish Working Group of the Partnership against Wildlife Crime.

The responsibility for the condition of the buildings at Bell Baxter High School lies with Fife Council. I am aware of concerns about the accommodation at the Westport site. However, Fife Council have reinstated to their capital programme the proposal to construct a new south wing at the main school site, which, when completed, should allow the Westport site to be taken out of use. These are matters for Fife Council, who are familiar with the contents of the recent HMI report, and I have no plans to visit the school.