Chamber and committees

Treatment with Rilutek should only be initiated by specialist physicians experienced in the management of motor neurone disease and patients' eligibility for this treatment depends on the clinical judgement of the medical practitioners' concerned.

It is for each health board to determine its prescribing policy on drugs, including Rilutek, taking into account advice from local drug and therapeutic committees. When the Health Technology Board for Scotland, established on 1 April begins work this summer, health boards will have access to a single focus of advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, including drugs.

As I made clear when announcing the conclusions of the Strategic Roads Review, further consideration of the M74 scheme is for the relevant local authorities. This consideration should be set in the context of the authorities' Local Transport Strategies and should involve a review of alternative transport solutions in the area.

It is proposed that the Graduate Endowment should only apply to those students who enter higher education from academic year 2001-02 onwards. The detail of the arrangements is currently being considered and will be subject to consultation and approval by the Parliament.

The payment dates for students' loans are directly related to the course dates which all institutions are required to notify to the Student Loans Company Limited. The Scottish Executive has in the past required the Loans Company to modify its systems to cater for institutions operating non-standard timetables and will be prepared to do so again if this is considered necessary.

There are currently no plans to change the frequency with which grants and loans are paid to students from the present termly basis. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland will, however, be reviewing payment arrangements later this year and will be prepared to consider whether there is a demand for greater frequency of payment and, if so, how that could be met.

It is proposed that students who start a continuous programme of study before academic year 2001 will not be liable for the Graduate Endowment regardless of the type of course undertaken. If, however, a student were to have a break from higher education prior to commencing an accelerated degree course in 2001 or later, then the student would be eligible for the Graduate Endowment. The detail of the arrangements is currently being considered and will be subject to consultation and approval by Parliament.

This information is not held centrally.

Students who are experiencing financial difficulty can apply for assistance from their institution's Access Funds. These funds, which are provided by the Executive, are administered by the individual academic authorities and are specifically targeted to help students whose access to, or continued participation in, further or higher education might be hindered by financial difficulties.

Colleges and universities have discretion to provide payments to students who are moving from the benefit system to undertake a course.

It is proposed that the Graduate Endowment should only apply to those students who enter higher education from 2001-02 onwards. Certain categories of students will be exempt; students undertaking HNC/HND courses; mature students; lone parents; and disabled students. The detail of the arrangements is currently being considered and will be subject to consultation and approval by Parliament.

Glasgow City Council in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council were awarded a total of £6.05 million from the first round of the Public Transport Fund towards the development of bus priority measures along the Baillieston to Faifley corridor. The allocation of this additional capital consent is spread over three financial years (1999-2000 to 2001-02). The City Council were also awarded a further £6.6 million, spread over three financial years (2000-01 to 2002-03), from the second round of the Fund to assist them with the development of a further two quality bus corridors in the city.