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The average bonus in respect of the top tranche was £3,000 and for the 33% of the middle tranche was £2,000. Bonuses do not apply to the bottom tranche.No cost of living increase applies, all pay awards are performance related and bonuses are paid in addition. There are no other salary premiums.

The pay band structure consists of three bands, but provided for a fourth to be used if departments perceived a need. The Scottish Executive decided to use all four bands as a way of providing more flexibility.The non-consolidated bonus pot was predetermined for all departments, although there was some flexibility on how it would be distributed. The Scottish Executive decided to award £3,000 or 3% of salary, whichever was the higher, to top-tranche performers and £2,000 or 3% of salary, whichever was the higher, to around 33% of the middle-tranche performers.

I met with the Expert Support Team on Friday 29 November. I asked them to complete their report and make a presentation to Argyll and Clyde NHS Board within the next few days. I will make an announcement soon thereafter.

I apologise for the delay in dealing with your letter of 1 July 2002, a reply has now been issued. We can find no trace in the office of a letter dated 18 September 2002.

Partnership in Practice Agreements and supplementary information for most local authorities is now available on the learning disability review website, along with the Executive's feedback to every area. Some local authorities have not yet provided electronic versions of their Partnership in Practice Agreements, but they will be published on the website as soon as they are available.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30920 today. 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.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30923 today. 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.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30923 today. 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.

In advance of the establishment of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland and the Scottish Health Advisory Service have convened a working group to produce a set of integrated core standards for mental health services to which specific standards for diagnostic groups can be added.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (formerly called the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland) will come into existence, subject to parliamentary approval, on 1 January 2003.NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will be created through the merger of five organisations: the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, the Health Technology Board for Scotland, the Scottish Health Advisory Service, the Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit, and the Clinical Audit and Resource Group. The combined budget of these organisations in 2002-03 is £9.7 million and they employ around 105 staff. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland's budget for 2003-04 and 2004-05 is still to be determined. The board will assess any need for additional funding to undertake new tasks it has been asked to deliver.