Chamber and committees

Immediate necessary treatment in an accident and emergency or casualty department is freely available to everyone, regardless of their residency status.

Under an exemption contained in the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989, as amended, all foreign nationals who have a legal right to be in Scotland and who are in employment are entitled to access NHS hospital treatment and services.

As general medical services (GMS) are provided by health professionals contracted to the NHS, it is a matter for general practitioners, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists to determine whether or not charges should be applied in providing GMS for overseas visitors.

However, in taking such decisions we suggest that GMS providers can refer to the principles of the Charging Regulations, underpinned by the guidance in CEL(2010)9 http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2010_09.pdf.

The Scottish Government has set up an overseas visitors helpline, operated by NHS inform, for the public and the service. We have also commissioned Health Rights Information Scotland to produce a series of information and advice leaflets covering the most common reasons that overseas visitors come to Scotland, and the healthcare they may be able to access while they are here. The leaflets are available at http://www.hris.org.uk/index.aspx?o=3936.

It has always been the case that temporary agency workers can apply for permanent posts in the Scottish Government where these posts are openly advertised to the external market. Selection for such posts is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. This is a statutory requirement set out in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles.

Temporary agency workers cannot apply for internally advertised posts as these posts are open only to current civil servants who have already been appointed on merit through a fair and open competition.

Public Bodies the Scottish Government funds jointly with the UK Government and one or more other devolved administrations are as follows.

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency

The Board for Academic Medicine

The British Cattle Movement Service

The British International Doctor’s Association

Commission for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence

E-Learning for Health

The Foods Standards Agency

The Forestry Commission Scotland

The Foundation Programme Application System

Improving selection into the Foundation Programme

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee

The Police Negotiating Board

The Serious Organised Crime Agency

Skills for Health

The Student Loans Company

The UK Climate Change Committee

The UK Climate Change Committee Adaptation Sub-Committee

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills

The UK Foundation Programme Office

The UK Supreme Court.

The numbers as provided by The British Council (the UK National Agency for Erasmus) are as follows:

These are for all outgoing Scottish Erasmus Students from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

The figures provided refer to UK outgoing Erasmus students from Scottish institutions.

There are currently three regulated public boards in Scotland that have 60% or more female membership. These are:

Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland - 76% female

NHS Education for Scotland - 88% female

NHS Health Scotland - 77% female.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) pays the interest in respect of borrowers’ Professional and Career Development Loans (P&CDLs) whilst they are studying.

Section 12 of the Further Education and Training Act 2007 gave powers to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), to allow them to administer P&CDLs and make payments on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 then transferred these powers from the LSC (which was abolished) to the new body, the SFA.

The numbers as provided by the British Council (the UK national agency for Erasmus) are as follows:

The figures are based on numbers of students per institution, from Scottish institutions.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which is responsible for the regulation of medicines across the UK, has consulted on the issue of regulation of electronic cigarettes and is currently undertaking scientific research on these products. We await the outcome of this work.

The Scottish Government’s aim, across all areas of learning, is to expand knowledge of aspects of Scottish life and culture. That is why we established the Scottish Studies Working Group to provide strategic advice on the development of Scottish Studies in our schools, as part of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Scottish Ministers are delighted that the working group recommended that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) develops an Award in Scottish Studies. This is being taken forward by SQA with positive results and we hope soon to make an announcement regarding this. All National Qualifications are available to all learners (adults and school children).

There are a wide range of opportunities to access Scottish Studies through adult education. Universities and colleges provide a wealth of learning and research on Scotland’s history, literature, language and culture. The programmes provided by local community learning and development services or third sector organisations often include the promotion of local history and heritage. As independent bodies, it is a matter for the institutions and training providers themselves to set their own priorities.