Chamber and committees

Diagnosis of Leber''s disease is made using the following methods: taking a history; identifying signs and symptoms; blood and urine tests; testing visual acuity and visual fields; electrophysiology studies, and fluorescein angiography. A CT or MRI scan is also undertaken to exclude other inflammatory and structural causes of acute optic neuritis, particularly if there is no family history.

No prevention or treatment is available for Leber''s disease at present. Several drugs and interventions are being tested, such as Brimonidine, near-infrared light treatment, Vitamin B12, and viral vector techniques. Gene therapy and stem cell therapy may help with management of the condition in the future.

Genetic counselling and referral to appropriate agencies for supportive advice regarding life circumstances and lifestyle may also be offered.

The information requested is not held centrally.

In the context of our agreement with local authorities that decisions on funding for local services are best made at a local level, no direct Scottish Government assistance is provided to local authorities specifically for befriending, or most other local, services.

Colleges are autonomous bodies responsible for managing their own affairs, and for decisions on who receives support and at what level, subject to limits set by the Scottish Funding Council. Information on how different colleges apply their discretion to these matters is not routinely held by ministers.

The performance of colleges, and any related targets, are matters for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the chief executive to write to the member with this information.

We provide core funding to the new third sector interfaces and those councils of voluntary service and volunteer centres that remain. The basic functions of these bodies include support to voluntary organisations, the promotion of volunteering and social enterprise and a strong connection to the community planning partnership in their area. The total of this funding is almost £7.9 million in 2010-11. We also provide funding to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (£0.350 million) and Volunteering Development Scotland (£0.9 million) for their general support to the third sector.

While none of this funding is aimed at extending the remit of individual organisations it does support the third sector generally since we believe the sector is a major force in the creation of a strong, successful Scotland.

Since its introduction, OPITO (The Oil and Gas Academy) in partnership with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board has trained over 770 modern apprentices under the Upstream Technician Training Programme for work in oil and gas. OPITO have also formed a partnership with Forth Valley College to help deliver their Transformation Training Programme. This has been funded through the PACE initiative. Through the modern apprenticeship programme we will provide over 1,500 opportunities for young people to commence a Level 3 Engineering MA this year. This figure includes opportunities for those who wish to work offshore.

Through the Oil & Gas Industry Advisory Group, we are working with the industry to address key areas of strategic priority including skills and industry promotion to enhance the industries'' competitive position and sustain oil and gas production in the future. The Forum for Renewable Energy Development for Scotland''s Offshore Wind Group is considering specific skill needs and is feeding into the Renewable Energy Skills Group with a view to skills interventions being developed. Skills Development Scotland is also supporting Energy & Utility Skills in their development of a Workforce Planning Model to cover offshore renewables.

The Scottish Government provides assistance to cultural and heritage events in the West of Scotland in partnership with key agencies and organisations with responsibility for promoting Scotland internationally. Examples include:

EventScotland - has supported the Gourock Highland Games, the European Pipe Band Champions in Inverclyde and the East Renfrewshire Food Festival. Through Homecoming, events celebrating Burns were supported in North Ayrshire and St Andrew''s Day celebrations were supported in each local authority area.

The Scottish Arts Council - awarded a total of 61 awards to the West of Scotland during 2008-09 and 73 awards during 2009-10. These awards represent a range of activity, which will include performances, exhibitions, publications, as well as outreach or other activity that would meet a broad definition of a cultural event. A significant amount of those awards were made to local authorities in respect of Youth Music and capital / infrastructure awards.

As the evaluation report being prepared for the Scottish Government on the various pilot projects is still being finalised, no decision has yet been taken on possible future funding arrangements.

The Station Car Parking Report was published on 18 February 2010 and sets out in detail the areas where further analysis is required. Transport Scotland has commissioned additional research, which is expected to be completed later this year and will assist in planning opportunities for future Network Rail and franchise specifications.