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There is no regulatory body that considers the treatment of service users receiving direct payments. The Social Work Inspection Agency considers practice of local authorities in their delivery of direct payments in conducting performance inspections. Complaints about the practice of local authorities in their treatment of service users with learning disabilities are handled in the same way as any other complaint against the council.

The Scottish Government have contracted with AC2.com and the British Deaf Association (Scotland) to acquire British Sign Language (BSL) translation services.

Members of a reference group on self-directed support are currently considering a draft strategy to radically increase the uptake of self-directed support in Scotland for all client groups including individuals with a learning disability. Recommendations for action will be published spring 2009. A key part of this strategy will be running test sites in three local authorities over two years to consider how well specific interventions improve uptake. This work builds on the research A Review of Self Directed Support in Scotland published in June 2008 which demonstrated the flexibility, choice, control and independence that self-directed support is able to offer individuals. In addition, there are recognised health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities, and we are funding an NHS Lothian project to consider how to improve the use of health monies as part of a self-directed support package. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/30134050/0

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that ten nurses at the Vale of Leven Hospital undertook specific training on Clostridium difficile prior to December 2007. Training took place on 4 March 2007 and focused on hand washing protocols when dealing with patients with Clostridium difficile; environmental cleaning; cleaning of equipment and documentation of patients with loose stools.

This local course specific to Clostridium difficile has since been replaced by the Cleanliness Champions Programme which is a comprehensive national programme covering the prevention and control of all Healthcare Associated Infections.

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that all priority staff as identified by the Vale of Leven Hospital have completed healthcare associated infection (HAI) training.

Sessions to date have been held during September and November 2008 and have covered a wide range of HAI related topics including: the function of the Infection Control Team; micro-organisms and the routes by which they spread; risk factors for HAI; standard precautions that should be taken by staff; environmental cleaning; decontamination of equipment; information about MRSA and Clostridium difficile; outbreak management and Viral gastroenteritis.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that 73 staff registered for the Cleanliness Champion Training Programme between May 2007 and September 2008. 36 have now completed it “ an increase of 13 on the answer provided to S3W-16443. The Cleanliness Champions training programme is completed at a pace which suits staff and personal schedules. However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has advised that protected time will be allocated to all nursing staff who remain on the programme so they can complete their training within the next few weeks.

The British Sign Language and Linguistic Access Working Group advises the Equality Unit on improving linguistic access for deaf people in Scotland. Since January 2008, the Scottish Government''s website has included a BSL translation of an introductory page within its People and Society Topic at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/disability/remit.

The Scottish Government has funded a wide variety of initiatives to promote BSL and has committed £1.5 million for 2008-11 to increase the number of BSL teachers and of BSL/English interpreters.

I refer the member to answers to questions S3W-15628 on 9 September 2008 and S3W-18002 on 26 November 2008. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to answer to questions S3W-15628 on 9 September 2008 and S3W-18002 on 26 November 2008. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The example minimum unit price of alcohol used in the Scottish Government''s discussion paper was an illustrative figure only. As stated in the discussion paper, this figure is lower than the off-sales average price and would impact most on those products priced low relative to their strength. Further work would be needed assess the potential impact of different minimum prices before firm proposals were brought forward.

Various studies have been carried out on the pricing of alcohol and its misuse, some of which are referenced in the discussion paper. Given the link between consumption and harm and the evidence that affordability is one of the drivers of increased consumption, addressing price is an essential component of any long-term strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse.