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At 7 January 2002, 253,952 people held Individual Learning Accounts. 116,465 of these have engaged in ILA-assisted learning.

We remain committed to encouraging the widest possible participation in lifelong learning. We are actively considering what future arrangements might be put in place to support individual learning. I expect to be able to say more about this later in the spring.In the meantime, learndirect scotland continue to provide advice for learners on freephone 0808 100 9000. Individual Learning Account (ILA) holders with ILA-related enquiries may contact a dedicated freephone helpline on 0800 100 1090.

Learners who enrolled in learning before the scheme's closure will be able to proceed, if their learning starts before the end of this month. Letters have gone to all account holders explaining the reasons for the closure and providing them with details of a dedicated freephone helpline, 0808 100 1090, should they require further advice.

Specialist services for all cancers continue to be provided by the Beatson Oncology Centre.

Information about the background to planning cancer services was outlined in the answer given to question S1W-19750.The linear accelerator (and related radiotherapy equipment) modernisation programme has been, and continues to be, developed by the Scottish Executive Health Department in consultation with Cancer Centre Directors and relevant staff drawn from across Scotland.Three new linear accelerators are installed at the Gartnavel Hospital site, giving a total of eight now available. Two further (additional) linear accelerators are to be purchased and installed there during 2002.Beyond that, the plans for further replacement and additional radiotherapy equipment will continue to be brought forward via the modernisation programme and within the context of the business planning process for the development of Phase 2 of the new West of Scotland Regional Cancer Centre at Gartnavel.

The West of Scotland Regional Cancer Advisory Group is chaired by Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executive NHS Greater Glasgow. The Regional Lead Clinician is Dr Harry Burns, Director of Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow.There are more than 60 members drawn from across NHS Argyll and Clyde, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Greater Glasgow, NHS Lanarkshire, Managed Clinical Network leads, the voluntary sector, patient representation and representatives of regional services such as breast screening and cancer surveillance.There are three members from the Beatson Oncology Centre,Dr N Reed, Clinical DirectorProfessor J Cassidy, Academic OncologyMs C Hutchison, Consultant Nurse OncologistFull details of the membership of the North, South East and West of Scotland RCAGs will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.Guidance on the role, structure and function of Regional Cancer Advisory Groups is set out in NHS HDL (2001) 71 issued on 13 September 2001. This is available online at www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the Scottish Executive and for NHSScotland. The Executive is committed to year-on-year increases in the unified budget allocations made to NHS boards. From within these allocations, local NHS management are responsible for planning service provision to meet the needs of their resident populations, including provision for tertiary services from specialist centres such as the Beatson Oncology Centre. Greater Glasgow NHS Board was allocated an initial unified budget of more than £846 million for this year with indicative unified budget allocations of £907.9 million for 2002-03 and £982.3 million for 2003-04.In addition, an additional £40 million is being invested across Scotland over this and the next two years specifically for cancer services. Plans designed to secure improvements in these services, for example, through more rapid diagnosis and shorter waiting times, were announced on 6 November 2001. Of more than £10 million being invested this financial year, more than £5 million will secure improvements in Glasgow and the West of Scotland cancer services.Plans to build a new cancer centre in Glasgow are also being progressed, for which £44 million investment has also been set aside.Implementation/investment plans are available on www.scotland.gov.uk and www.show.scot.nhs.uk and copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

The Clyde Shipyards Task Force included Gordon Jackson MSP as chair of the Scottish Parliamentary Shipbuilding Group. The task force do not plan individual consultations in advance of publication of the report in the next few weeks.

Officials from the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland meet regularly with officials at the Student Loans Company. Complete details of all meetings held between the department and the company over any particular two-year period could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

The information requested is not held centrally.