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Under the Directions to the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 1994 (as amended) a Prison Governor can prohibit a prisoner from making telephone calls to persons who have indicated to the Governor, in writing, that they do not wish to receive telephone calls from that prisoner.

I refer Mr Gibson to pages 112-115 of the report on the Strategic Roads Review which was published and made available to Members on 4 November.

The White Paper Smoking Kills which was published on 10 December 1998 sets out a comprehensive strategy to combat smoking throughout the UK. The Scottish Executive endorses the White Paper as a framework for action. However, in taking the policy forward, we have been careful to ensure that the measures outlined are being specifically tailored to Scottish priorities and circumstances.A copy of the White Paper is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre [SPICe].

No. Advice from the Medicines Control Agency is that the use of pre-filled plasticised PVC bags containing infusion solutions such as sodium chloride is not considered to pose any unacceptable risk to patients.It is understood that the US Food and Drug Administration has not withdrawn PVC bags but is undertaking a risk assessment of a specific plasticiser, which was scheduled for completion at the end of November.

The Scottish Executive's assessment of the M74 Northern Extension is set out in the report on the Strategic Roads Review which was published and made available to Members on 4 November.

The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2000-01, which includes the Police Grant Aided Expenditure will be announced shortly. Police GAE is not hypothecated and it is for individual authorities and joint boards to determine their expenditure plans.

The Council confirmed in a letter to its tenants last week that November 2000 was the target date for the ballot.

The Scottish Executive endorses the position taken by successive Governments for many years, that complementary or alternative therapies may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. Legislation allows practitioners of such therapies to offer their services, subject only to some general restrictions such as those on prescribing and supplying medicines and giving injections. Members of the public are free to use these services privately if they choose, and a GP or hospital clinician may refer a patient for alternative treatment. The GP or hospital clinician would require to be satisfied of the value of the treatment and the competence of the practitioner, and would remain responsible for the patient's medical care. It is also open to Health Boards to provide alternative therapies.Many forms of alternative therapy are already available as NHS treatment. The Scottish Office Department of Health's National Medical Advisory Committee produced, in November 1996, a report on the current activity levels in acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy and chiropractic, which included guidelines for Health Boards on making purchasing arrangements for their provision. These guidelines, as the report made clear, might be applied to other forms of alternative therapy. Herbal medicine would come into that category. The guidelines do not, however, require Boards to purchase particular therapies, which is a matter for the Boards, based on assessment of need in their areas.

Sexual health, including the reduction of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, is a priority for the Scottish Executive. The White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach, which placed sexual values and relationships within a legal and ethical framework. The demonstration project "Healthy Respect", being funded by the Executive, will therefore develop best practice in the promotion of sexual health and the prevention of unwanted teenage pregnancies.An expert working group is reviewing the current HIV prevention strategy in the light of epidemiological trends. The Health Education Board for Scotland, too, has sexual health as a prominent aspect of its work.Schools have a crucial role to play, and tackle sex education within a comprehensive programme of health and social education. Funding is being provided by the Executive to enable the voluntary sector's expertise to be made available to many more schools in Scotland and so promote a more informed and responsible approach to sexual matters on the part of young people.

This would be a matter for decision by Ministers at the time, taking into account advice from the New Housing Partnerships Steering Group on the scope for re-allocating resources to other New Housing Partnerships projects.