Chamber and committees

Beta interferon is available on NHS prescription and its use depends on the clinical judgement of the specialist concerned, informed by advice and evidence about its use.The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) are preparing advice for health professionals on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of beta interferon. In the case of the HTBS, their advice will be based on the NICE guidance but providing a Scottish view. NICE expect to be able to issue definitive advice later this month.

When a medicine receives a UK marketing authorisation, either from the Medicines Control Agency or the European Medicines Evaluation Authority, it becomes prescribable on the NHS unless it is added to Schedule 10, or in certain circumstances, Schedule 11 to the NHS (General Medical Services)(Scotland) Regulations 1995, which regulate the terms on which doctors provide general medical services under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. Amendments to Schedules 10 and 11 are made by Statutory Instrument.

When a medicine receives a UK marketing authorisation, either from the Medicines Control Agency or the European Medicines Evaluation Authority, it becomes prescribable on the NHS unless it is added to Schedule 10, or in certain circumstances, Schedule 11 to the NHS (General Medical Services)(Scotland) Regulations 1995, which regulate the terms on which doctors provide general medical services under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. Amendments to Schedules 10 and 11 are made by Statutory Instrument.

Greater Glasgow NHS Board received £13,583,000 for the purpose of writing off brought forward accumulated deficits at the following NHS Trusts:North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust £9,491,000South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust £4,092,000In addition, the board received £2,150,000 as a contribution towards the extra costs involved in managing winter pressures.

We have made clear that clinicians should be alert to those at higher risk of sudden death because of a significant family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. GPs should refer those patients to a cardiologist for investigation. Recent scientific evidence suggests that implantable defibrillators may help prevent sudden death in high risk patients, but these findings need to be confirmed. This new evidence has led the National Screening Committee, which advises the UK Health Departments on screening programmes, to commission further work. We will consider the committee's advice in due course.I gave a commitment in the members' debate on 14 November that we would investigate ways of increasing awareness of the condition within primary care. For those families in which a particularly serious form of the disease occurs, the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium is considering the possibility of including tests in its molecular genetics service.

The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to change the arrangements for planning consent in respect of houses in multiple occupation, but it will continue to keep the matter under review in the light of experience with the implementation of licensing under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000.

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997 (the 1997 Order) specifies in Class 9 that, among other things, changes in the level of occupancy of a house between the following groups: a single person, people living together as a family and up to five residents living together, do not constitute development and do not, therefore, require planning permission. Class 9 of the 1997 Order does not, however, apply to flats.Beyond the specific provisions of Class 9 of the 1997 Order, it is for planning authorities to consider whether an application for planning permission is required for an increase in the level of occupancy. Determination as to whether an increase in the level of occupancy of a dwelling constitutes a material change of use amounting to development which requires planning permission depends on the impact of that increase on the amenity and environment of the surrounding area. Planning authorities may specify their policies in relation to multiple occupancy in their local plans.

In line with the recommendation of the research commissioned by the Scottish Office on the discretionary licensing schemes, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000 which introduced mandatory licensing throughout Scotland, made explicit provision for authorised officers to the licensing authority to have powers of entry and search of unlicensed premises. The lack of a power of this nature was identified as a particular weakness in the previous discretionary licensing schemes, which prevented local authorities from obtaining information to be used as evidence for the prosecution of an owner who failed to apply for a licence when one was required or continued to operate after a refusal of a license.The Guidance on the Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation, which was issued by the Scottish Executive also drew the attention of local authorities to the need to establish good relations with the police and procurator fiscal and suggested that local authority officials might want to meet the procurator fiscal to discuss any possible problems. It specifically referred to Reports to Procurator Fiscal - A Guide for Non-Police Reporting Agencies first published by the Crown Office in 1999 which gives guidance on the information that should be provided in reports to the procurator fiscal. The Scottish Executive has also provided advice on the Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme to allow the Crown Office to update and reinforce its guidance to procurator fiscals. The procurator fiscals are responsible for deciding whether to prosecute cases referred to them by local authorities, subject to guidance issued by the Crown Office on timescales for taking and implementing decisions on cases.

In considering a report of an offence in relation to houses in multiple occupation, as in considering any report of any offence, procurators fiscal are under a duty to be satisfied that there is evidence available which is sufficient in law to prove the offence. Further information is given in the Prosecution Code and no special requirements apply in relation to houses in multiple occupation.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20345.