Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3642 on 4 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I met with the Networkof International Development Organisations in Scotland and the Scotland-Malawi Partnership on 23 August 2007 to invite them to contribute to the discussion on thefuture of our International Development Policy. As stated in the answer to questionS3W-3300 on 27 August 2007, my officials and I will continue to meetwith aid agencies to discuss international development as required.

The future directionof the Scottish Government’s International Development Policy - and the way in whichthe increased International Development Fund is distributed - will be informed bythe expert views of Scotland’s Aid Agencies. This will ensure it is focusedon ways in which we can contribute to achieving the millennium development goals.

As stated in the answerto question S3W-2899 on 7 August 2007, this Scottish Government is committed toTrade Justice and will continue to support the drive to make Scotland a Fair Tradenation, based on meaningful and substantial measures. We will do this through continuedsupport for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, who represent the key organisations andindividuals who can make this a reality.

Our commitment states We will convene a meeting of Scotland''s aid agencies to ensure Scotland''s overseas aid policy meets the needs of those in greatest need of support and in our first Budget for Scotland the SNP will increase Scotland''s International Development budget by 100%. That is exactly what I announced on 23 August 2007.

Under current legislationperiodic reviews mean that MEP numbers are determined with reference to actual numbersof electors.

Since theimplementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, (the 2003 Act), the Executive hasencouraged better use of short-term detention certificates which are intendedfor assessment and/or treatment of people in hospital. TheMental Welfare Commission for Scotland, who have a duty to monitor theoperation of the 2003 have reported that the rate of emergency detentionremains much lower that it was before the 2003 Act was implemented. Short-termdetention is now the usual route into compulsory treatment during normalworking hours and 70% of emergency orders aregranted outside normal working hours.

Takentogether, the 2000 Act, the 2003 Act and the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, (the 2007 Act)provide a comprehensive framework for supporting, protecting and safeguardingthe interests of vulnerable adults in Scotland. Each piece of legislation has a different focus. The 2003 Actcomprehensively reforms and modernises the legal framework for treatment anddetention of people with mental disorder. The 2000 Act ensures that measuresare in place to safeguard and have decisions made on behalf of adults who lackcapacity to make the decisions themselves, including decisions relating tomedical treatment. The 2007 Act introduces measures to better protect adults atrisk of abuse.

Somepeople who are unable to give informed consent to treatment may be subject tomore than one piece of legislation, depending on the circumstances and care andtreatment required. The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has produced guidance on consent totreatment and the codes of practice for the Acts will contain helpful guidance.

Our approach tomental health has a wholepopulation focus to maintainthe mental wellbeing of the people of Scotland; andimprove the situation of those with mental ill-health. The approach focuses onpromoting attitudes and behaviour which leads to improved mental wellbeing; andensuring high quality, integrated mental health services are available foreveryone that needs them, at all levels of need.

Our whole systemsapproach to the delivery of mental health services is based on partnershipworking across NHS boards,CHPs; local authorities, the voluntary sector and others to deliver on a rangeof policies and initiatives. These include delivery of the 14 specific and timetabledcommitments and 3 HEAT targets set out in Delivering for Mental Health (Bib. number:41410).

Progress withdelivery by local agencies on this agenda is assisted and informed by a rangeof national support mechanisms. These include the Mental Health Collaborativewhich will help deliver targets around reducing readmissions and antidepressantprescribing; benchmarking and information gathering to support the improvementprocess and publication later this year of standards for Integrated CarePathways for the main mental health diagnosis. Development of betterperformance management systems, such as visits to every NHS board in Scotland to review implementation and offer support forchange, will also assist delivery by all agencies.

Therehas been a small overall rise in people with learning disabilities who aresubject to compulsory detention under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 (the 2003 Act). The numbers have risen from 239 people in2004 to 252 people in 2006. Peoplewith learning disabilities have a higher incidence of mental health difficultiesthan the general population. There is also some evidence that they are subjectto orders for longer periods.

Peoplewith learning disabilities (with or without a co-morbid mental illness) havethe same rights and safeguards under the 2003 Act as other mental healthservice users. The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland visits all people on long term ordersand provides an important safeguard for people with learning disabilities whomay not be able to make representations to the Tribunal.