Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6575. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searchwa.

Money advisers’ practicevaries across the sector, however some provide support with the completion oflegal forms and court representation, including in cases of debt relating tocouncil tax arrears. Legal aid may also beavailable for a solicitor to advise or represent someone with debts relating tocouncil tax arrears, as long as they meet the legal aid statutory tests.

The Executive’s funding formoney advice will cover negotiation by advisers with creditors to reach anagreement which provides the best possible outcome for the creditor and debtoralike. In some circumstances debtors seeking such advice will have experiencedthe diligence of attachment. In a few cases exceptional attachment orders mayhave been granted.

The Executive, in line withthe recommendations of the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (EGAMS),recognises that it is important to plan in advance where a woman shoulddeliver. This will take into account previous and current pregnancy, medicalhistory, locally available services, likely outcomes and transportarrangements, including travel time to a specialist unit.

EGAMS recommends that boardsshould develop and implement protocols and guidance related to risk assessment.These protocols should minimise incidence of transfer between communitymaternity units and consultant led units.

To ensure that transportissues continue to be considered fully in policy and planning, the ScottishAmbulance Service contribute to the Scottish Executive’s National MaternityServices Workforce Planning Group. This group will look at resource implicationwithin maternity services as part of its remit.

This is a matter for NHS Scotland bodies. The information requested is not centrally available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The staff of the ChiefScientist Office (CSO) are bound by the Civil Service Management Code. This requirescivil servants to declare to their department or agency any business interestsor holdings of shares or other securities which they or members of theirimmediate family hold (to the extent to which they are aware of them), with whichthey may have to deal as a result of their official position. There are noplans to place this information in a public register.

CSO’s committees areadvisory in nature. Members of the Committees are given guidance on conflictsof interest when they are appointed. This is particularly detailed for membersof the Biomedical and Therapeutic Committee and the Health Services ResearchCommittee. Where a member has any potential conflict of interest in a researchapplication to be considered by a Committee, the member concerned is excluded forthat particular agenda item. There is no requirement for Committee members toprovide details of their interests in a public register.

Dr Kenneth Aitken and DrGordon Bell have sought two meetings with me since the MMR expert group’sreport was published in April 2002 to discuss research proposals. I have notmet with them but Dr Aitken and Dr Bell have been encouraged to meet withofficials of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to discuss their proposals. TheCSO, within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for fundingand supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. DrAitken and Dr Bell have never met with CSO officials but it remains open forthem to do so.

The Scottish Executive set up a Reference Group in June 2002, to advise ministers asimplementation of the Public Health Institute of Scotland's Autistic SpectrumDisorders Needs Assessment Report progresses. At the most recent meeting on 3 November 2003,members agreed to publication of a work plan by 1 March 2004, when the groupnext meets.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2O-987 on 18 December 2003. All answers to parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department has not funded any researchproposals into the causes of autism in the recent past. No such applicationshave been rejected in the last year and one is currently under consideration.