Chamber and committees

During pre-service training panel members receive general information on child development and special needs, including reference to autistic spectrum disorder. Recent in-service training and locally organised training events have also addressed autistic spectrum disorder.

The information requested is not held centrally.

It is for health services and local authorities to work together to organise eating disorders services that meet the assessed needs of their area. To aid local considerations we have published a template for the best organisation of eating disorder services. The template guidance acknowledges the specialist support networks, knowledge and advice available through organisations such as the Scottish Eating Disorder Interest Group, Health Education Board for Scotland and other specialist voluntary and professional organisations. Planners are also encouraged to respond positively to the views of service users and carers whose insights are particularly relevant in the planning of services.

Fife Constabulary, in discussion with other enforcement agencies, is taking steps to ensure that, following the introduction of the proposed ferry service, a commensurate level of policing would be in place at the port to counter the assessed threat posed by criminal and other interests.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS operates a system of induction and sentence management for prisoners. This, together with the health checks carried out on admission, aims to identify prisoners with serious problems as a result of, for example, autism. Education staff working in prisons draw up individual learning plans for and with prisoners. A diagnosis of autism would result in particular care being taken to engage the learner appropriately.

The principal responsibility for school provision in rural and urban areas lies with the education authorities. There are statutory consultation requirements which authorities must undertake where they propose to close a school. This ensures that there is a full opportunity for all relevant issues surrounding any proposed closure of a school to be aired and considered.

The detailed management and delivery of the curriculum in Scotland rests with education authorities and schools. To support the role of schools and education authorities, advice and guidance on the curriculum is provided by the Scottish Executive and other agencies. National guidelines on the 5-14 curriculum for environmental studies provide schools with the opportunity to promote the teaching and learning of skills associated with the countryside. There are also opportunities within the National Qualifications framework for the development of such skills.

Local authorities and others in rural areas have access to a range of support measures already in place, or being introduced. These include our current Youth Crime Review investment of £23.5 million over three and a half years. Every local authority will carry out an audit of demand and resource so the area's needs can be identified and met. In addition, up to £21.75 million of the £87 million total available nationally for sport and physical education from the New Opportunities Fund has been earmarked for schemes intended to divert young people from offending behaviour. Furthermore, the community education grant scheme of over £1 million supports voluntary youth organisations who operate throughout Scotland, including rural areas.

The Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit has reported that discussions with Tayside Police about the fatal accident on the A90 at Friarton Bridge in November 2001 did not identify any road defect or requirement for specific engineering measures to be undertaken. Notwithstanding this report, BEAR Scotland Ltd has been asked to investigate the Friarton Bridge area in general, as part of the annual trunk road safety programme, to determine whether any measures could be introduced to improve safety at this location.

It is for the board to consider their position in light of local needs and planned best responses to those needs, against the background of expectation set out in the original Framework for Mental Health and the support group forward agenda which includes specific attention on the creation/expansion of eating disorder services.