Chamber and committees

The Scottish tourism sectorwas represented at the 2006 London Golf Show. However, there was a reducedpresence as compared with the previous year due to a clash of dates. Theorganisers of the Golf Show had taken the decision to move their original datesto prevent a clash with the London Marathon, which in turn meant that the newdates fell in the same week as VisitScotland’s “Expo” in Glasgow, theannual flagship trade show for the Scottish tourism industry.

The conflicting dates notonly prevented VisitScotland from taking a stand at the London Golf Show, butalso meant that many of Scotland’s golf suppliers and related businesses foundthemselves in the same position and unable to be at both events.

Nevertheless, althoughVisitScotland did not have a stand, staff were in attendance at the London GolfShow, and the Official Guide to Golf in Scotland was distributed through an industry partner. Inaddition to this, a number of private businesses were present at the Show.

All civil aircraft flysubject to the provisions of the Air Navigation Order 2005 and the Rules of theAir Regulations 1996. These require that helicopters must not fly within 500feet of any person, vessel, vehicle or structure (except when landing or takingoff), nor below 1,000 feet over a congested area. Copies of the documentsreferred to above are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (respectivelyBib. numbers 39776 and 39777).

Examples of auditprocedures, including safety audit, are available to local authorities withinCycling by Design, which was published by the Scottish Executive in December1999. However, it is for local authorities to design their own procedures forauditing of cycle lanes.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.

The Scottish Executive doesnot specifically monitor the environmental impact of helicopter flights. However,the height restrictions under the Air Navigation Order 2005 and the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996, which are concerned primarily with safety, help tomitigate the impact of noise. In addition, Planning Advice Note 56, whichcontains specific advice on helicopter and heliport noise, sets out the role of the planning system in preventing and limiting the adverse effects of noise. Copiesof the documents referred to above are available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (respectively Bib. numbers 39776, 39777 and 1153).

The Scottish Executivepublished comprehensive guidelines in December 1999 covering the planning,design, implementation and audit of cycling facilities. Entitled Cycling byDesign the guidelines were prepared in consultation with local authoritiesand are in widespread use throughout the country.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.

Since Disclosure Scotland beganoperating in April 2002, 1,551,084 criminal record checks have been carried out.It is estimated that 480,836 checks (31%) have been for individuals who have alreadyhad a check carried out.

Between 29 April 2002 and 30 April 2006, DisclosureScotland received 1,551,084 applications as set out in the following table. Theincome for each year is also included in the table. The fee rose from £13.60 to£20 at 1 April 2006.

Applications are made by individuals,not organisations.

	Basic Disclosure	Standard/Enhanced Disclosure	Total	Total Income
Apr-Dec 2002	649	92,815	93,464	£1,271,110
Jan-Dec 2003	94,684	218,298	312,982	£4,256,555
Jan-Dec 2004	211,220	249,962	461,182	£6,272,075
Jan-Dec 2005	175,911	314,323	490,234	£6,667,182
Jan-Mar 2006	67,130	82,225	149,355	£2,031,228
April 2006	20,095	23,772	43,867	£877,340
				£21,375,491

 

I have agreed theBusiness Plan and key performance measures proposed by SPS for the period 2006-08.The SPS Chief Executive, Tony Cameron, has written to the Justice Committees toprovide them with copies of the plan which is also available in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 39664) andon the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk.

During the design stage of thelaboratory suite at the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh the possibility of cross-contaminationwas taken into account. The two sections of the laboratory are quite separate, withdedicated staff performing virology investigations and blood transfusion staff involvedin blood handling. The areas are also physically separate. Control procedures arealso in place to ensure accurate diagnostic testing, including minimising the riskof cross-contamination. The Scottish NationalBlood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) believethe risk of cross-contamination to be low and are not aware of any episode arisingthrough the incident reporting systems.

Avian influenza is distinct fromhuman pandemic influenza. Although the avian influenza virus poses a risk to birds,the risk it poses to humans is extremely limited. This is because it is very difficultto catch from birds and even more difficult to pass from human to human. The majorconcern is the possibility that the virus could mutate into a form that can easilytransmit between humans, and thus give rise to another global epidemic (a pandemic)in humans.

While the work force planningto deliver health services is primarily the responsibility of the individual NHSboard, the Scottish Executive is working with NHSScotland, including NHS Lothian,on the planning arrangements for any potential outbreak of pandemic influenza. Asplans develop, the Scottish Executive would expect them to reflect arrangementsfor staffing key areas such as laboratories.