To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support patients and families where the newborn hearing impairment screening programme identifies hearing loss. The Public Health Institute of Scotland report, NHS Audiology Services in Scotland, recommends that NHS boards should develop and implement an early intervention programme to meet the treatment and support needs of children and their families affected by the early diagnosis of hearing loss through the screening programme.I would also refer you to the answer given to S2W-1824 on 27 August 2003.