Chamber and committees

The Scottish Steering Group for the European Year of Disabled People met for the first time in June 2002.Its members were selected by the Scottish Executive and are drawn from national organisations with an interest or involvement in disability policy development, including disability-led organisations, service providers and others. Members include the Disability Rights Commission, Inclusion Scotland, the Scottish Disability Equality Forum, the Scottish Human Services Trust, members of the Disability Agenda Group, the Scottish Council on Deafness, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the STUC. Only national organisations were asked to participate and we looked to ensure that we covered a broad range of impairment groups and to ensure that disabled people themselves were involved. However, the steering group at its first meeting agreed that it would look to involve other organisations and interests as necessary.Proposals to celebrate the European Year of Disabled People are being developed and will be announced early in 2003.

There are no plans to test the blood of every autistic child in Scotland for the measles virus because, using validated methodologies, it would only be detectable in the acute viraemic stage of the illness.

As stated in the answers given to questions S1W-25472 on 30 April 2002 and S1W-25524 on 15 May 2002, expert medical advice confirms that MMR remains the safest and most effective way to protect children from measles, mumps and rubella. This view was supported by the conclusions of the MMR Expert Group report, published in April 2002. The Executive therefore has no plans to change the current immunisation programme and, on the basis of best clinical practice, will continue to offer MMR to protect children against these three serious diseases.Uptake rates for the childhood immunisation programme to quarter ended June 2002, as published by the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) of the Common Services Agency (CSA), reflect another rise in MMR uptake. The figure of 88.6% to end June 2002 reflects the highest uptake since March 2001.

The Public Health Institute of Scotland's Needs Assessment Report on Autistic Spectrum Disorders (2001) estimated that, in Scotland, there are 2,114 autistic children under 19 years of age, and a further 5,600 with other autistic spectrum disorders.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique which amplifies minute quantities of DNA in the blood and makes testing for it easier. Each test costs a minimum of £150.

We propose to deliver this recommendation through the working group established by the Public Health Institute for Scotland for the development of the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report. Membership is as stated on the inside cover of that report. The Scottish Executive held a first meeting with the group on 24 June 2002. This initial meeting focused on the identification of priorities for implementing the report's recommendations. There is no minute of the meeting.

The Scottish Executive has set up a Scottish steering group to take forward a number of events in Scotland to celebrate the European Year of Disabled People in 2003. These events will be in addition to UK wide work co-ordinated by the Department for Work and Pensions.The steering group is considering plans for events and activities throughout the year, but has yet to announce it's proposed programme.

Responsibility for allocation of European Union grants to disability organisations as part of the European Year of Disabled People 2003 lies with the Department for Work and Pensions, who have the UK co-ordinating role. No additional grants will be available from the Executive.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28050 on 27 August 2002.

Yes. In many areas, implementation of The same as you? at local level began before Partnership in Practice Agreements were prepared.

Area Strategy Groups were not formally constituted in the implementation of the Beattie Report but there are, or will be, strategic groups responsible for Implementing Inclusiveness Projects in each Local Advisory Board area of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.Partnership working is subject to monitoring through the Careers Scotland performance management system and will also be evaluated as part of the National Monitoring and Evaluation of the Beattie Inclusiveness projects.