Chamber and committees

The new Sandyford Toll roundabout at the A77/A719 junction is, in common with all other alterations to the trunk road network, subject to a Road Safety Audit (RSA) procedure. The third stage in this procedure is a site examination once the works have been opened to traffic. The RSA, which took place on 21 October, identified a number of measures which could further enhance safety at the roundabout and these have been programmed for completion in week ending 15 November. Yellow transverse bar markings are currently being designed for implementation on the trunk road approaches to the roundabout.

The NHS Scotland Breast Screening Programme provides routine breast screening every three years for women aged 50-64. Women below the age of 50, irrespective of whether or not they received diethylstilboestrol (DES) during pregnancy, are not routinely screened due to the density of their breast tissue which makes it difficult to detect problems.Some of those women whose mothers received DES during pregnancy between 1941 and 1975 will already be within the routine breast screening age range. However, any women irrespective of their age who has concerns, should seek advice from their General Practitioner (GP) and may be referred by their GP to the symptomatic breast service, where appropriate.

We have no such plans.

Our policy paper Scotland's Canals: an asset for the future is being published today.

The Scottish Executive is taking a number of steps to increase the number of junior doctors.The total Specialist Registrar establishment was increased by 100 in 2001, a rise of 9%, with many of the increases being in the specialties with the highest levels of vacancies. Additional funding for a further targeted increase of 375 junior doctors was announced on 2 April 2001, for the period to 2004.The great majority of junior doctors in Scotland start as medical students in Scotland. The Executive has commissioned Sir Kenneth Calman to undertake a review of basic medical education in response to recommendations contained in Future Practice, Professor John Temple's report of his review of the Scottish medical workforce.Other measures include a review of medical careers, which will be undertaken by Professor John Temple as part of a co-ordinated national approach to NHS and health careers that promotes and attracts professionals to work in Scotland.

As oil seed rape produces pollen, it is impossible to rule out altogether the possibility of some pollen travelling outwith the boundaries of the trial site. Separation distances are used to minimise this possibility. When considering applications for GM field trials the consequences of pollen travelling by wind or foraging insects is specifically assessed by the Executive's advisory bodies including the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. Approval would not have been given for the current trials if this assessment had given rise to safety concerns for human health or the environment.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been allocated additional resources over the three-year period covered by the 2002 Spending Review of £11.2 million. This comprises an extra £3.3 million in 2003-04, £3.0 million in 2004-05 and £4.9 million in 2005-06 over and above the 2003-04 baseline of £25.86 million. These figures are indicative as they are subject to parliamentary approval.

The Cryptosporidium Direction 2000 required the then water authorities to identify all water works in Scotland considered to be at high or moderate risk and set a strict timetable for the water authorities to take steps to introduce appropriate measures to reduce the assessed risk to "low". The Quality and Standards 2002-06 report set the investment priorities for Scottish Water which includes all the measures required to reduce risk to levels considered acceptable for a public water supply, including the need for investment in a new water treatment works at Milngavie. In the interim the cryptosporidium direction requires the water authorities to monitor continually all water considered to be high risk (which includes Mugdock) and to report the levels of cryptosporidium to the relevant NHS board to allow the board to assess whether or not the reported level constitutes a risk to public health. Given our knowledge on the potential risk of cryptosporidium and the measures in place to detect its presence, I do not think a public inquiry would add to our knowledge.

I am advised that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been involved in the current review of Scottish Water's Waterborne Hazard Plan insofar as it relates to food safety. It is not, however, within the FSA's remit to review Scottish Water's practices and procedures.

The recommendation in respect of livestock grazing on land controlled by Scottish Water contained in the Outbreak Control Team report published by Greater Glasgow Health Board in November 2001 is being acted upon by Scottish Water. Scottish Water has no control over livestock management practices operating on land that is owned by third parties.