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The Scottish Government takes this issue seriously. All agricultural pesticides are strictly regulated, based on independent scientific consideration. The Scottish Government’s scientific advice comes from SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) and from the independent UK Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP). Our position is kept under constant review as new scientific evidence becomes available.

We welcome the publication of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) new study into the risks associated with neonicotinoids and bees.

The ACP will review EFSA’s new evidence and their advice will then be considered by Ministers. Restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids can be brought in if these are considered necessary.

The Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products in Scotland is an important source of practical advice for the safe use of pesticides for farmers and all other professional users of pesticides.

Under a Scottish Government funded budget, staff at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have provided extensive advice to farmers on the use of neonicotinoids on oilseed rape.

As well as being strongly advised to follow label recommendations, farmers have been given advice on threshold limits, best time of day for their application, notifying beekeepers prior to their use, avoid spills of seed and carry a kit to clear up any spills that do occur. Farmers have also been advised to ensure any dust is retained in the seed product packaging, and if a pneumatic drill is used for planting ensure any dust is vented into the seedbed and not the atmosphere.

The cost to farmers of neonicotinoid treatment of oilseed rape seed is equivalent to approximately £25 per hectare sown. This does not include the cost of the seed, or other costs of sowing such as labour and machinery.

The Scottish Government’s position on all pesticides is based on scientific advice from SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture), and from the UK’s independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

Scottish Government staff have discussed issues relating specifically to neonicotinoids with scientists involved in the insect pollinators initiative and other researchers at Scottish academic institutions.

Neonicotinoid seed treatments are aimed at two groups of pests on oilseed rape.

Estimating an average oilseed rape crop yield loss from feeding damage caused by various flea beetle species is difficult. The impact of damage on crop establishment depends on how favourable crop growth conditions are at the time of sowing.

Aphids which transmit turnip yellow virus when feeding are the second pest target for seed treatments. Estimates of yield loss indicate that at an individual crop level impact on yield can be up to 30%.

The following table shows the value of payments made to optometrists by NHSScotland for NHS eye examinations in the previous four financial years.

Source: OPTIX database, figures provided by Information Services Division.

Notes:

1. A primary NHS examination is defined as an initial eye examination.

2. A supplementary NHS eye examination is defined as an additional eye examination when required for specific conditions.

3. The values presented above are based on payments made in each month of the financial years in question and do not include subsequent refunds, late claims or corrections to these payments.

The Scottish Government set up the Commission on Women Offenders (the Commission) to look at all areas concerning women offenders involved in the criminal justice system in Scotland. We have been addressing the recommendations made by the Commission since the publication of its report in April 2012. A number of activities undertaken in response to the Commission’s recommendations will support a reduction of the number of women offenders taken into remand or on short term sentences, where other options are appropriate.

For example, potential sites for the Community Justice Centre (CJC) pilot referenced in the Commission’s report are in the process of being identified at the moment. These pilot projects are scheduled to be in place over 2013 - 2014 and will provide support mechanisms which will promote a viable alternative to the use of remand when dealing with women accused of lower level offences and to the imposition of a short term custodial sentence when a sheriff feels that this would be appropriate. The CJC model offers the opportunity to deal with issues that can contribute to the offending behaviours of women offenders through a holistic, multi – disciplinary approach, delivering services appropriate to local needs and building on existing local good practice, rather than through a generic model.

The new electronic monitoring contract, which starts on 1 April 2013, offers the opportunity to pilot the use of satellite tracking (GPS) technology, which has not previously been available for the monitoring of offenders in a non – custodial setting. It is our intention to trial this technology, initially in cases where monitoring is given following sentencing. This technology offers the possibility, if its effectiveness is established, to extend its use in a further pilot of cases where bail could be used as an alternative to remand.

Other developments will provide courts with information and alternative sentences which will assist them in considering sentencing.

The Commission recognised that the profile of women offenders generally differs greatly from that of male offenders, and that women offenders tend to be characterised by a range of multiple and complex needs. When preparing the criminal justice social work report, social workers must take these needs into consideration. It is then a matter for the court to decide the appropriate penalty, determined by the specific circumstances of the case, including whether the offender is affected by problems with substance or alcohol misuse.

Since the introduction of the community payback order in February 2011, sheriffs now have the option to refer women offenders affected by substance and/or

alcohol misuse to appropriate services that will help to address addictions issues, as part of a community based sentence. In 2011 – 2012, approximately 14% of the total of the 10,228 CPOs commenced were served on women offenders. An evaluation of the use of CPOs will deliver its initial findings in autumn 2013.

Where the court considers that a custodial sentence is appropriate, responses are in place to address the individual needs of an offender, whether in relation to addiction issues, or communication issues.

The responsibility and accountability for the provision of health care services to prisoners transferred from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to the National Health Service (NHS) on 1 November 2011. This includes the provision of alcohol and enhanced addiction casework Services, and these are now provided by the respective local health boards.

The SPS is responsible for the delivery of group-based approved activities that aim to provide education and awareness about the consequences of problematic drug and alcohol use and to increase motivation to change. In addition, prison staff also deliver the substance related offending behaviour programme (SROBP) which addresses alcohol and drug related behaviour. The SROBP is currently run in 9 SPS establishments, including HMP/YOI Cornton Vale. The overall aim of the programme is to reduce substance related offending and is a cognitive-behavioural programme that can be delivered on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting.

With regard to women with a communication difficulty, “The Big Plus” screening tool is used in prison settings to assist in the early identification of learning difficulties among offenders. In addition, there will also be a pilot of the specific learning difficulty profiling tool undertaken from April 2013 in HMP/YOI Polmont and HMP Shotts, utilising an innovative new tool developed by the University of Wales in Welsh prisons. While the term specific learning difficulty can cover a range of conditions, the most common are dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. This pilot is scheduled to run for one year.

Territorial NHS boards reported income of £64.001 million from General Dental Services in their audited annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2012.

Free NHS dental treatment and vouchers towards the cost of glasses are available to people in receipt of income support, pension credit guarantee credit, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, people entitled to, or named on, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate or those named on a valid HC2 certificate for full help with health costs under the NHS low income scheme.

In addition children under 18 years of age, those aged 18 in full-time education, pregnant women and nursing mothers are automatically entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

While children under 16 years of age, those aged 16, 17 or 18 in full-time education and those prescribed complex lenses are automatically entitled to an optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses.

An optical voucher can cover the full cost of glasses up to the voucher value or the patient can choose to put the voucher towards a more expensive pair of their choice.

The previous NHS sight test in Scotland was replaced by a new NHS eye examination on 1 April 2006. The NHS eye examination is tailored to meet the needs of the patient, taking into account their history and symptoms. This examination is called a “primary eye examination” and includes certain mandatory tests and procedures as well as patient specific tests and procedures depending on the patient’s age or presenting signs/symptoms.

Patients can receive a free primary eye examination at certain defined intervals, which are based on the patient’s age or medical condition. These intervals are set down in the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (“the 2006 Regulations”).

The frequency of eye examinations is based on a Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the ophthalmic profession in 2002 on the frequency of NHS sight tests. The frequencies of eye examinations currently in place are based on best practice and advice from the profession.