Chamber and committees

The SPCB is committed to increasing the amount of Scottish produce used within the Scottish Parliament and we are currently working with our catering partner to achieve this through the provision of fresh and seasonal food items.

It is not possible to give an accurate total percentage figure of Scottish sourced food served in the Scottish Parliament, as figures will change for some food types due to availability dictated by seasons, stock levels and price. All chicken, pork, milk, cream and bread products used are sourced in Scotland. In addition, when in season, we use vegetables grown in Scotland and endeavour to source Scottish produced foods, such as beef, lamb, fish and fruit when stocks and prices allow.

The Scottish Government''s catering provision seeks to maximise the use of local, seasonable produce whenever possible. Depending on the season, around 75% of all perishable produce is sourced in Scotland.

I anticipate that the results of the study will be published by Easter.

In total 382 live animals were imported into Scotland from mainland Europe during the period 1 October to 31 December 2008. No figures are currently available for 2009. The following table details the imports by species.

Species	Total Number
Horses	49
Pigs (Mini-pigs for research)	41
Other Mammals (includes ungulates, primates and rodents)	284
Poultry/Birds	8
Total	382

 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have kept the Scottish Government informed on the take up of vaccine across England. These figures are subject to continual change and the Scottish Government does not routinely receive updates beyond the information published by Defra. This can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/control/vaccination/index.htm.

Veterinary practices are providing the Scottish Government with information on their sales of bluetongue vaccine to animal keepers. From the information provided up to 20 January, 1.8 million doses have been dispensed and 28% of cattle and sheep holdings have obtained vaccine. Cattle and sheep keepers have until 30 April to vaccinate their animals.

The following table shows provisional outturn net revenue expenditure by local authorities on public analysts from 1996-97 to 2007-08. The Scottish Government does not hold final outturn data confirming these figures. The table does not include figures for 1995-96, which was prior to local government reorganisation and the creation of the current 32 unitary authorities.

Public Analyst Provisional Net Revenue Expenditure

	£000
1996-97	2,058
1997-98	1,689
1998-99	1,689
1999-00	1,957
2000-01	1,007
2001-02	1,948
2002-03	3,692
2003-04	4,079
2004-05	3,933
2005-06	4,140
2006-07	4,344
2007-08	4,493

Source: As reported by local authorities in Provisional Outturn Budget Estimate (POBE) returns.

This information is not held centrally.

This information is not held centrally. However, we understand there are currently four public analyst laboratories: in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The planning of the workforce, including Specialist Parkinson''s Disease Nurses, is a matter for NHS boards who are responsible for planning services in their area based on clinical need.

In doing so they are required to consider the role of both specialist nurses and nurses with a broader remit working in the community, as part of their plans to make sure that services meet the needs of people living with long-term conditions.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has been consulting on draft generic and specific standards applicable for Neurological Health Services, including Parkinson''s disease. The publication of the standards is likely to take place in summer 2009, and NHS boards across Scotland will be expected to comply with both generic and the specific standards drafted by NHS QIS.