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The average gross earnings, expenses and income for GPs are published annually by the Office of Manpower Economics. The latest figures and historical figures can be accessed via this link:

http://www.ome.uk.com/DDRB_Reports.aspx.

The European Commission proposals will restrict from 1 December 2013, the use of three neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin) on crops with flowers attractive to bees.

In Scotland the main effect of this will be that farmers will not be able to purchase and grow winter and spring oilseed rape seeds treated with any of these three neonicotinoids.

Instead farmers will need to apply foliar sprays of other insecticides to oilseed rape crops growing from untreated seeds. Foliar sprays are less efficient than seed treatments with neonicotinoids at controlling insect pests and so some crop damage by insect pests is likely.

However, it is difficult to estimate the likely loss of crop yield because of insect pest damage, as the impact depends on how well a crop establishes and grows. In addition insect pests such as aphids transmit diseases such as turnip yellows virus which can further diminish the oilseed rape yield, perhaps by 15-25%.

The restrictions will not affect Scottish production of winter wheat and winter barley from neonicotinoid treated seed.

The Data Sharing Technologies Board, established by the Scottish Government with delivery partners including local authorities and the NHS, is supporting the development of local digital information sharing systems which support local needs, priorities and processes.

These developments are being informed by the work of the best practice information sharing group for children and young people on the local implementation of the GIRFEC approach.

Work is progressing to agree national minimum data sets in respect of a child's plan, wellbeing concern and chronology. This will produce a standard form of information, which will have the potential to be shared and understood across Scotland.

NHS Health Scotland’s Choose Life programme produces a range of resources for local areas and organisations to use, either internally with their work force or for their work force to give to people who are vulnerable to suicide or their family and friends. For example, the new Police Scotland is planning to issue the Choose Life key message card to all its staff so that they can refer to them and give them to members of the public as and when appropriate.

The resources are regularly updated and research undertaken to ensure that they are relevant and accessible to their intended audiences. Materials are distributed free in Scotland on request.

These include the following resources - the numbers give the monthly average distribution:

Choose Life – Don’t Hide It Pocket Card – 800

Choose Life “Read Between the Lines” Key Message Card – 1,200

Choose Life Card – 170

Read Between the Lines Posters, 4 types – 3,000

After a Suicide Mental Health Booklet – 120

The Art of Conversation, full A4 document – 400

The Art of Conversation Summary – 3,300

As part of its awareness-raising activity, the Breathing Space telephone advice line for people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety, has distributed postcards (“Help a friend stay in the game”) developed by Choose Life, at various Scottish Premier League football games.

Breathing Space pocket cards and other ambient materials are distributed throughout the country, both direct by Breathing Space and via its various partner organisations such as Choose Life, Scottish Huntington’s Association; Veterans 1^st point; Royal National Institute for the Blind; Deafblind Scotland; and MacMillan Cancer Support – this information is specific to Breathing Space as a phone and web based service for people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

Choose Life materials signpost people to help available from Samaritans and Breathing Space. Samaritans use text messages – among other methods - to support people who contact them.

Under the new Future programme at NHS24 there are plans to introduce a text messaging service – at a time to be confirmed - to support people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. NHS24 also have plans for an email service to complement this, again at a time to be confirmed.

Among the 57,050 children reaching six years of age in 2012, 52,021 (91.2%) had received one dose of the MMR vaccine and 5,029 (8.8%) were unvaccinated when they reached 24 months of age in 2008. Of the 5,029 children who were unvaccinated by 24 months of age, 2868 had received one dose of the MMR vaccine and 2147 had received the second dose of the MMR vaccine by six years of age.

Uptake rates for the entire cohort of 57,050 children in Scotland reaching six years of age in 2012 were 96.2% for one dose of the MMR vaccine and 93.0% for the second dose of the MMR vaccine.

As part of the childhood immunisation programme, two doses of MMR vaccine are routinely offered to children by five years of age (one dose at around 12 to 13 months of age, and a second dose from three years four months of age). Table 1 shows the number and percentage of children by doses received by five years of age. MMR vaccine uptake rates by five years of age have been monitored since 2006. Uptake rates by six years of age are also published and the available information is shown in Table 2. Information is not centrally available on the number and percentage of children vaccinated separately against measles, mumps or rubella.

Table 1: Uptake rates of MMR vaccine by five years of age in Scotland

Source: SIRS, ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2013-00677.

Table 2: Uptake rates of MMR vaccine by six years of age in Scotland

Not available. Uptake rates of the first dose of MMR vaccine by six years of age have been monitored since 2006.

Source: SIRS, ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2013-00677.

As part of the childhood immunisation programme, children are routinely offered one dose of MMR vaccine at around 12 to 13 months of age, and a second dose from three years four months of age.

MMR vaccine uptake rates by birth cohort are monitored at 24 months, five years and six years of age and are available on the ISD website. The most recent uptake information can be accessed at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Publications/2013-03-22/2013-03-22-Immunisation-Report.pdf?82683962584

(i) Trends in uptake rates by annual birth cohort are published in a series of tables at Scotland level and for each NHS Board. The following tables have been collated from the published information on the ISD website as follows:

Table 1: Uptake rates of the one dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age, by NHS board, 1999-2012

Table 2: Uptake rates of (a) one dose and (b) the second dose of MMR vaccine by five years of age, by NHS Board, 2006-2012. Note that uptake rates by five years of age have been monitored since 2006

Table 3: Uptake rates of (a) one dose and (b) the second dose of MMR vaccine by six years of age, by NHS Board, 1999-2012

(ii) Information on uptake of one dose of MMR vaccine by five years of age by council ward is published under the Health topic and Immunisation sub-topic section on the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website at:

http://www.sns.gov.uk/

Data are available for years 2008 to 2011. Information for 2012 is due to be added to the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website by the end of May 2013. Due to the small geographical areas presented, where appropriate the uptake rates on the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website have been subject to disclosure control methods to maintain confidentiality and make sure information on a particular individual or household is not revealed.

iii) Information on uptake rates of one dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile is available for years 2006 to 2012 and is shown in the following table.

Table 4: Uptake rates of one dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age by SIMD quintile¹, 2006-12:

Source: SIRS, ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2013-00678.

Note: 1. The figures are based on SIMD 2006 for years 2006 - 2008, SIMD 2009 for years 2009 - 2011 and SIMD 2012 for year 2012.

(iv) Uptake rates are collated and reported by birth cohort. For example, annual uptake rates reported for 2012 relate to three annual birth cohorts as follows:

(a) Uptake rates by 24 months of age relate to children born January to December 2010

(b) Uptake rates by five years of age relate to children born January to December 2007

(c) Uptake rates by six years of age relate to children born January to December 2006

This information is provided in part (i) above.

Table 1: Uptake rates of one dose of MMR vaccine (MMR1) by 24 months of age, by NHS Board

Children reaching 24 months of age in calendar years 1999 to 2012

Source: SIRS, ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2013-00678.

Notes:

1. The former NHS Argyll and Clyde ceased to exist on 31st March 2006 and the administration was split

between two sub-areas that now fall under the administration of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and

NHS Highland respectively.

2. NHS Orkney have identified data recording issues which have resulted in their uptake rates being

under-reported for years 2011 and 2012. NHS Orkney are working to rectify these recording issues.

Table 2: Uptake rates of (a) one does and (b) the second dose of MMR vaccine by five years of age, by NHS Board, 2006 – 2012

Children reaching five years of age in calendar years 2006 to 2012

Source: SIRS, ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2013-00678.

Notes:

1. NHS Orkney have identified data recording issues which have resulted in their uptake rates being under-reported for years 2011 and 2012. NHS Orkney are working to rectify these recording issues.

2. Uptake rates by five years of age have been monitored since 2006.

Table 3: Uptake rates of (a) one dose and (b) the second dose of MMR vaccine by six years of age, by NHS Board, 1999 – 2012

Children reaching six years of age in calendar years 1999 – 2012

Source: SIRS, ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2013-00678.

Notes:

1. NHS Orkney have identified data recording issues which have resulted in their uptake rates being under-reported

for years 2011 and 2012. NHS Orkney are working to rectify these recording issues.

2. The former NHS Argyll and Clyde ceased to exist on 31st March 2006 and the administration was split between two

sub-areas that now fall under the administration of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland respectively.

3. Uptake rates of one dose of MMR by six years of age have been monitored since 2006.

Given the difficulties in systematically reaching young adults aged 18 – 24, it is recommended that existing practice continues whereby the MMR vaccine continues to be available opportunistically for those who seek it or where there is a public health need e.g. travel.

In light of the significant circulation of measles in Wales and England, it was announced on 25 April 2013 that children aged 10–17 years will be offered a further opportunity to be vaccinated over the next few weeks. This will complement the continuation of the current activity by NHS boards of offering MMR vaccine to unimmunised and partially immunised children in the appointments given to them for receiving other immunisations.

We will be supporting this activity with a communications campaign and will be encouraging parents to take up vaccination if their children are not protected.

NHS Scotland has comprehensive vaccination data from the routine immunisation programmes, primarily through pre-school vaccinations recorded on the Scottish Immunisation and Recall System (SIRS). These data are linked to primary and secondary school attendance through the CHSP School system which is used to record immunisations given through school-based immunisation programmes such as HPV vaccinations. Nursery attendance is not recorded on CHSP School or SIRS.