Seòmar agus comataidhean

Recognising thepotential of the BIC to strengthen relations between its members and to developcooperation further between them across a range of sectors of mutual interestand benefit, all agreed it is now opportune to review the future direction of the BIC. In this context, Alex Salmond proposed energy as a useful work area of the BIC and offered to lead on this.

The BIC taskedthe secretariat, in consultation with member administrations, to undertake astrategic review of the council’s work programmes, working methods and supportarrangements, including arrangements for a standing secretariat, and reportback with firm proposals as soon as possible.

As with previous summits, the meetingalso received progress reports and agreed a plan for future work on the othersubjects being taken forward by council members. These are demography, e-Health,drugs, environment, knowledge economy, minority and lesser–used languages, tourism,transport and social inclusion.

Acopy of the Communiqué issued by the British-Irish Council after the summitmeeting in Belfast is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.(Bib. number 43175).

Funding allocations for smoking cessation services are agreed by the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control and include an additional adjustment to take account of social deprivation, which is closely linked to smoking rates, in each health board Area.

An uplift of £2 million was allocated to health boards in 2007-08 in order to expand cessation services. In addition to the pro-rata increase this year, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board would have received a further uplift in funding to take account of its share of funding for Clyde area residents, and Highland Health Board has received funding in respect of Argyll residents.

Keep Well aims to increase the rate of health improvement in deprived communities and includes a specific funding stream for smoking cessation activity.

The following is the original answer (published on 6 August 2007); see below.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board came into being in 2006, and it is therefore not possible to give figures for that board for last three years. The following table sets out funding available for smoking cessation services for Greater Glasgow Health Board, Highland Health Board and Argyll and Clyde Health Board (which was subsumed into Greater Glasgow and Highland health boards in 2006) from 2005 to 2007-08.

Funding allocations for smoking cessation services are agreed by the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control and include an additional adjustment to take account of social deprivation (which is closely linked to smoking rates) in each health board area.

An uplift of £2 million was allocated to health boards in 2007-08 in order to expand cessation services. In addition to the pro-rata increase this year, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board would have received a further uplift in funding to take account of its share of funding for Clyde area residents, and Highland Health Board has received funding in respect of Argyll residents.

Keep Well aims to increase the rate of health improvement in deprived communities and includes a specific funding stream for smoking cessation activity.

In addition thechange in Scottish prosecution policy in 2005 to allow evidence from testpurchasing of age restricted goods to be admissible in court means that localauthority trading standards departments have an additional useful tool tocombat underage sales.

Furthermore, Iintend to publish a five year Smoking Prevention Action Plan by Spring 2008which will cover targets to reduce smoking among young people; reducing availabilityof tobacco to young people; discouraging young people from smoking and enablingyoung regular smokers to stop.

The preferredsource for smoking prevalence data is the Scottish Household Survey. The sampleis drawn such that results are available at Scotland level on an annual basis and at local authority level for the two yearperiods 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2006.

The sample sizesfor Glasgow Maryhill parliamentary constituency over the two year periods arereasonable, but the survey is not designed to give representative results atparliamentary constituency level. Therefore, the figures presented below shouldbe interpreted with caution.

Scotland level figures for the same two yearperiods are included as a reference.

Smokingprevalence (adults aged 16+) in Glasgow Maryhill Parliamentary Constituency:

Source: ScottishHousehold Survey.

Managing the HeritageLottery Funded £1 million training bursary scheme for Scotland and NorthernIreland.

Developing a new NationalProgression Award in Conservation Masonry Qualification to enhance the skillbase of the existing workforce.

Sponsoring craft skillsfacilities through a number of key organisations, notably the Historic Scotlandfacility at Elgin and the Scottish Lime Centre Trust.

Making craft trainingprovision a condition of Historic Scotland grants.

Working with the SectorSkills Council (Construction Skills), under a Minute of Agreement, to addresscraft skills shortages.

Providing placements for trainingin key trades.

Supporting the ScottishStone Liaison Group and working with other bodies and industry on developingskills training opportunities and outreach work.

Running careers outreachwork sessions (craft skills tasters) with young people.

Setting up and runningScottish Conservation Forum on Training and Education (SCFTE) to liaise andguide training activity in Scotland.

Managing a professional bodyliaison Group to develop peer review accreditation in conservation skills andprovide CPD support for building professionals.