The Scottish Government

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Covering Letter

Dear consultee

PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION IN SCOTLAND: A CONSULTATION

I am writing to seek your views on proposals to update public health arrangements in Scotland. The responses to the consultation will help to inform future public health policy and the drafting of new legislation to ensure that we are able to respond effectively to current and foreseeable public health threats.

Background

Public health legislation in Scotland is contained in a number of statutes and dates back to the late 19 ^th century. It has contributed significantly to the huge strides we have made in controlling infectious diseases, nuisances and other threats to health. However, there is increasing evidence that the legislation is not wholly consistent with current practice or modern life. The attached document sets out a number of proposals to strengthen the public health response in Scotland and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of those working in the public health field. It has been developed through the work of a Public Health Review Group, which comprised representatives of a number of relevant public health organisations and disciplines.

Consultees should also be aware that the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation has adopted new International Health Regulations, which aim to enhance the global public health response to new diseases and naturally occurring, accidental release or deliberate use of chemical and biological agents or radionuclear materials that affect health. The new Regulations require to come into effect by June 2007, although member states have a further 12 months from the entry into force date to adjust their domestic legislation. The Scottish Executive is working with the UK government to establish the legislative changes required to comply by that date and further information will be made available in due course.

Consultation process

We are inviting written responses to this consultation paper by Friday 12 January 2007. Written responses may be submitted in the following ways:

• e-mailing your response to publichealthconsultation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk using 'Public Health Consultation Response' as the subject of your e-mail;
• returning your response in hard copy to:

Sean Doohan

Requests for additional copies of the consultation document should be directed to the above address or by calling 0131 244 2429. Alternative formats and community language versions of the document are also available on request. This consultation, and all other Scottish Executive consultation exercises, can be viewed online on the consultation web pages of the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations .

We should be grateful if you would clearly indicate in your response which questions or parts of the consultation paper to which you are responding, as this will aid our analysis of the reponses received. All responses should also include a completed Respondent Information Form, which will help to ensure that we handle your response appropriately. If you ask for your response not to be published, we will regard it as confidential, and we will treat it accordingly.

All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Executive are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act for information relating to responses made to this consultation exercise.

Consultation events

As part of the consultation process, we will be holding a number of half-day events which will provide the opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to hear more about, and to discuss, issues raised in the consultation and to provide direct feedback. This feedback will also be taken into account in our deliberations on future policy. The events will be held in Inverness on 4 December, Aberdeen on 5 December, Dundee on 8 December, Edinburgh on 11 December and Glasgow on 12 December. Further details, including how to apply, are attached.

What happens next?

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence, to help us shape new public health legislation. We aim to issue a report on this consultation process by Spring 2007.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or comments about this consultation exercise, or complaints about how it has been conducted, please send them to Sean Doohan at the contact details above.

Yours sincerely

MOLLY ROBERTSON

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