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The Executive has not issuedand has no plans to issue advice to local authorities on the implementation ofguidance issued by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management on child to adult ratiosin swimming pools. The guidance is intended to encourage and assist the makingof appropriate risk assessments. While child safety is of paramount importance,the guidance is not intended to prevent children from having fun and enjoyingthe exercise and socialising aspects of swimming and its benefits in healthterms. It is for individual local authorities and other swimming pool operatorsto interpret and apply the guidance taking into account the circumstances ofeach swimming pool for which they are responsible. However, I would hope that theguidance would be implemented in the spirit which it is intended.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6866 on 24 March 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

An NHS employers’ reference groupfor the consultants’ contract has been meeting on a regular basis since it wasestablished in November 2003. This group, which includes managementrepresentatives from a number of NHSScotland boards and Scottish Executive staff, is overseeing a co-ordinated and consistent approach to planningfor the introduction of the consultants’ contract and has issued regular adviceto all NHSScotland employers to help take forward this work. The group hasexamined in detail the financial aspects of the contract and has been carryingout an assessment of costs across all NHS boards.

Planning for introduction of the new GMS Contract on 1 April 2004 has been on-going since the positive outcome of theUK-wide GP ballot in June 2003. A national reference group, comprised of stafffrom across the NHS boards in Scotland and Scottish Executive representatives, has beenoperating since last year to oversee the implementation process. A finance workinggroup, with its membership drawn from finance directors across NHS boards andthe Scottish Executive, has been meeting on a regular basis to examine thefinancial envelope for GMS in Scotland and identify any likely pressuresresulting from implementation of the new contract. These discussions arecurrent and on-going.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6379 on 8 March 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliamentwebsite. The search facility can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Local authorities areexpected to meet their responsibilities for tackling alcohol problems fromwithin the resources made available to them by the Scottish Executive. While we have no plans to provide additional resources to local authoritiesfor this purpose, we announced on 4 March 2004 that we will be making anadditional £8 million available to NHS boards for tackling alcohol problemsover the next two financial years.

This ring-fenced allocation isin addition to the existing resources for tackling alcohol problems provided inNHS boards general allocations.

The European Commission'sThird Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, published on 18 February,outlines its proposals for Structural and Cohesion Funds in the nextprogramming period for 2007-13. The Commission is expected to publish formalproposals in July 2004 for negotiation among member states and it is hoped thatan agreement on these proposals can be reached in the Council of Ministers bythe end of 2005.

Therefore, the future of EuropeanStructural Funds is still at an early stage and it is not yet possible topredict how much funding any area tourist board will receive post 2006.

Tolls are collected undercontract by APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd. Under the contract arrangements the companycollects the tolls and banks all revenues direct to the Executive, and is paida monthly management fee for carrying out the operations. The contract itselfruns from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005, but is extendable by up to oneyear.

I am currently consideringthese matters and will make an announcement in due course.

While this is primarily amatter for NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow, I would expect appropriateclinical advice to form part of the development of the report.

The NHS Reform (Scotland)Bill will make provision for a new duty on NHS boards to co-operate to advancethe health of the people of Scotland. That duty will underpin the work currently underwayin boards to draw together a framework for regional planning. The frameworkwill make it clear that boards must participate in regional planning, thatdecisions reached in regional planning groups are binding and it will set outarrangements for dispute resolution. We will ensure that an assessment ofregional planning activity forms part of the annual accountability review foreach NHS board.