Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 314

Flu campaign targets at risk groups
A new campaign has been launched today aiming to encourage on people of all ages in "at risk" groups, healthcare workers and carers to get their free flu immunisations.

It is specifically targeted at people over 65 and those with chronic medical conditions (asthma, diabetes etc) as they are at risk of developing serious complications, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, if they catch flu.

The campaign shows the speed that flu-infected sneezes can travel, which may result in possible infection. It depicts someone sneezing who is carrying the flu virus. As they sneeze, they project between 2,000 and 5,000 particles of virus-filled droplets at a speed of 100mph. Anyone within 30 feet of that sneeze is unlikely to avoid those droplets and therefore could become infected.

Flu is highly infectious and around 10 to 15% of the UK is affected by flu every year. They are being encouraged to protect themselves from flu by arranging to get immunised this winter.

Health in Scotland annual report
A Scotland in which lung cancer is virtually wiped out is a real possibility in years to come if the reduction in deaths speeds up as expected, Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns said today in his first annual report. He said the smoking ban, which has reduced passive smoking rates and is showing early signs of encouraging more people to quit, will reduce lung cancer rates to just a few hundred cases a year in the future.

The smoking ban and other public health measures outlined in today's report are also having an impact on driving down the incidence of conditions like heart disease and stroke.

Presenting his first annual report during lung cancer awareness month, Dr Burns said:

"Imagining Scotland with no lung cancer is not trivial speculation. In the 1960s, one in 100 men died of lung cancer. Today, rates are falling all the time and, thanks to the smoking ban, I expect the reduction in deaths to accelerate until dying from the disease becomes a rare occurrence.

"Anecdotal evidence shows that since the smoking ban, there has been a surge in the numbers of smokers seeking help to give up.

"The number of people giving up smoking as a result of the ban and the fact that public places are now smoke-free will also be the most important factors in cutting Scotland's rates of not just lung cancer, but a host of other conditions like heart disease, stroke and asthma.

"Figures out last week showed that deaths from heart disease fell by 5.2% between 2004 and 2005 and the overall incidence has fallen by 25% in the last ten years.

"But it's not just the smoking ban that is making a difference - the availability of new treatments on the NHS has also helped drive down the risk of heart disease. Heart disease is now being treated more often as a chronic medical condition rather than an acute one, thanks to medical advances and drugs like statins."

"All the signs show that Scots are starting to take action to help the nation's health turn the corner."

WEDNESDAY begins with an Executive debate on Supporting Positive Transitions from School to Work.

Although not immediately obvious from the Delphic title, this debate will focus on what the Executive is doing to reduced the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET).

Headline figures show that there are 35,000 young people NEET in Scotland, representing a higher proportion of the 16-19 year old population than the UK as a whole. The Scottish Executive's analysis shows that around 20,000 of these young people will need support in order to access education, employment or training opportunities.

While I would like to think that the debate has been called as a result of my setting up a Cross Party Group on the issue, it is more likely to be down to the fact that the Executive has published the first ever action plan aimed at reducing the proportion of young people identified as NEET category - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/06/13100205

Launching the strategy, both the First Minister and his Deputy said it was crucial to rescue the unacceptable waste of potential represented by the 20,000 young Scots identified as NEET and who need support in order to access opportunities. The role of the private sector in working alongside local and central government and the voluntary sector has also been highlighted.

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate on Community Health from Mark Ballard (GRN).

THURSDAY morning begins with two SSP debates on Housing Stock Transfer and Equal Pay.

As is usual with opposition debates, no motions have yet been published and so the focus of both debates is unclear. The motions will, as always, be published in the Business Bulletin in due course and a full transcript of both debates will be available from the Official Report on Friday.

The day closes with a Member's Business debate on Scotland’s Historical Places and Artefacts from Christine May (LAB).

Wednesday 8th November 2006
14:30 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Supporting Positive Transitions from School to Work
17:00 – 17:30	Member's Business: Community Health (Mark Ballard (GRN))

Thursday 9th November 2006
09:15 – 10:25	Scottish Socialist Party Debate - Housing Stock Transfer
10:25 – 11:40	Scottish Socialist Party Debate - Equal Pay
11:40 – 12:00	General Question Time
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:15 – 14:55	Themed Question Time * Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport; * Finance and Public Services and Communities
14:55 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Violence Against Women
17:00 – 17:30	Member's Business: Scotland’s Historical Places and Artefacts (Christine May (LAB))

Monday 6th November 2006
	Finance	Members convene in at Crichton University in Dumfries to take evidence from Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, Tom McCabe, and his officials on the budget process 2007-08. The Minister will also give evidence on a piece of subordinate legislation relating to the draft budget, which will then be voted on by the Committee.
Tuesday 7th November 2006
AM	Finance	The Committee takes evidence on the Financial Memoranda for three Bills: the Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Bill, the Schools (Health and Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill.
PM	Justice 1	The Committee will consider a draft of its report on the Scottish Criminal Record Office inquiry.
	Enterprise and Culture	Evidence on the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Bill from Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, Tom McCabe, and his officials is followed by consideration of the Bill at Stage 2.
	European and External Relations	The Committee will consider a paper setting out proposals for its consideration of the European Commission’s legislative and work programme 2007.
	Health	Health and Community Care Minister, Andy Kerr; Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, Dr Kevin Woods; and the Scottish Executive Health Department's Planning and Development Manager, Andy Smith, give evidence on the Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill.
	Local Government and Transport	Evidence on the general principles of the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill comes from Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, George Lyon, and officials.
	Justice 2	Representatives from the Association of Directors of Social Work; CoSLA; ACPOS; the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents; Strathclyde Police's Violence Reduction Unit; and the Prison Officers Association give evidence on the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill.
Wednesday 8th November 2006
	Communities	A Member of the Expert Working Group on Nutritional Standards for the Regulation of School Lunches, and Standards for the Regulation of Food and Drinks Outwith the School Lunch gives evidence on the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill, as does the Scottish Food and Drink Federation, the Automatic Vending Association, the British Soft Drinks Association, Diabetes UK, the British Dental Association, NHS Health Scotland and the Soil Association.
	Environment and Rural Development	Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Rhona Brankin and officials give Stage 1 evidence on the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill.
	Justice 1	Stage 2 of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill continues.
	Education	Stage 2 of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill continues.