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Officials from Justice Department,Community Justice Services Division, attended two events in 2006 where discussionsfocussed on electronic monitoring and which were also attended by representativesfrom Serco: opening of the electronic monitoring centre in East Kilbride - arrangedby Serco in November 2006, and an electronic monitoring conference – outcome ofresearch project carried out by the University of Leeds – sponsored by Group 4 Securicoralso in November 2006.

Officials from Change and CorporateServices, Facilities and Estate Services had delegate representation at the CharteredInstitute of Public Finance in Scotland (CIPFA), Annual Procurement Seminar on 7 December 2006 wherea Serco (Consulting) speaker discussed “Collaboration, Efficiency and Effectiveness”.

The Scottish Executive was alsorepresented at an international conference in China on social innovation on 16 October 2006, anevent jointly organised between the British Council, the Young Foundation and theChina Centre for Comparative Politics and Economics, whereSerco was represented also.

Crown Office and Procurator FiscalService officials from Ayrshire attended a number of events or meetings where Sercoemployees were also present: a meeting between the Crown Office and Procurator FiscalService area business manager for Ayrshire, and representatives of Strathclyde Police,Scottish Courts Service and Bowhouse Prison, Kilmarnock to discuss preparednessin the event of pandemic flu and contingency planning; a meeting between a ProcuratorFiscal Depute and Serco employees when undertaking a locus inspection of a caserelated to Bowhouse Prison; a Community Justice conference in Crieff attended bythe Procurator Fiscal Depute where Serco were also represented, and a conferenceon alcohol abuse attended by the District Procurator Fiscal, Ayr, also attendedby Serco employees.

In addition, Serco is contractedto provide soft facilities management in a number of NHSScotland facilities underPPP/PFI contract. Health Department officials facilitated a number of meetings during2006 between the health trade unions, Business Services Association (PPP/PFI employersassociation), NHS employers and Serco to discuss and resolve contractual arrangementsfor former NHSScotland staff. Agreement was reached towards the end of 2006.

A Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) is a warning stroke or mini-stroke that producesstroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage, as the symptoms resolvewithin  24 hours. Recognising and treating TIAs can reduce the risk of a major stroke.

Whatever route someonewith a suspected TIA takes in order to seek help (consultation with their GP, orreferral to an emergency service, including a minor injuries unit), they shouldbe referred as a matter of urgency to a local neurovascular clinic run by a strokeconsultant or neurological specialist. A combination oftests can then be performed to identify those at greatest risk of going on to havea major stroke. In order to perform these tests, neurovascular clinicswill have access to facilities for urgent investigation, including brain and vascularimaging.

Once a diagnosis of TIA has beenmade, all patients, whether admitted to hospital or seen at a neurovascular clinic,should have their risk factors assessed, documented and treatment offered, to minimisethe risk of a stroke occurring. Most of those who have been diagnosed with a TIA can be managed on anout-patient basis, though a few may require admission to hospital.

The setting up ofenhanced neurovascular services has been a priority for the investment of the strokeelement of the additional funding made available to implement the Executive’s CHDand Stroke Strategy, published in 2002.

Where the TIA has been causedby narrowing of the arteries in the neck, the person should be considered for carotidendarterectomy, an operation which involves cleaning out and widening the carotidartery which has become narrowed.

For component companies awardedPPP contracts, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29142 on 15 November 2006. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at:

No detailed discussions havetaken place with the UK Government, but the issue was raised atinter-Departmental HR meetings attended by Scottish Executive officials whereoperational issues in relation to civil service staff surpluses, vacancies andredeployment are discussed.

We welcome the consultationbeing undertaken to help HMRC understand the impact of their plans on staff andcommunities.  It is, however, too early to speculate on the impact in Scotland ofany possible job losses. However, as we have previously indicated, we will takeaccount of any potential job losses within the context of future relocationdecisions.