Learning disability is mentioned in the single outcome agreements in the context of the provision of care and support services, accommodation, employability, independent living, children and young people, obesity, personal life plans and pregnancy services.

In relation to community care, 10 local authorities have included Indicator 29 in their single outcome agreements, which is to increase the proportion of people needing care or support who are able to sustain an independent quality of life as part of the community, through effective joint working.

The Scottish Government expects single outcome agreements to reflect the expectations of all people in receipt of services including those with learning disabilities. Specific reference to learning disability is made in 19 single outcome agreements.

There are no current plans to do so. Staff are expected to follow policy on the use of personal protective equipment, such as the use of disposable aprons and gloves and rigorous hand hygiene to protect staff and patients from potential cross infection.

Policies relating to NHSScotland uniforms and dress code are in need of review, and the Scottish Government''s Health and Wellbeing Directorates are in the process of finalising a national dress code for NHSScotland. Issues that may act as a barrier to good practice, such as the availability of changing and laundry facilities, are also under consideration.

The processes used by each laboratory will vary depending on the size of the NHS board and the frequency of testing required. All NHS boards'' testing kits are approved nationally.

There is no central source of data on the number of accessible houses built in Scotland.

I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the technique used to diagnose Clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven Hospital is the Teklab Toxin A/B Quikchek Kit. All NHS boards use testing kits that are approved nationally for use in detecting Clostridium difficile so most products will be similar.

Information on the appropriate usage of gloves by health care staff, including their use to prevent and control the spread of infection, is set out in each NHS board''s personal protective equipment guidance. Vinyl and nitrile gloves are examples of gloves available worn by staff.

All hospital laundry should be laundered in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Department of Health Circular HSG (95)18: Hospital Laundry Arrangements for Used and Infected Linen. This circular, which is currently under review, includes instructions for the thermal disinfection of linen. During infection outbreaks, each NHS board would also follow the NHSScotland Code of Practice for the Local Management of Hygiene and Healthcare Associated Infection. The code is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/05/19315/36624.

Paragraph 5.3, Chapter 5 of the code (Prevention and Control of Infection Guidance) describes how laundry should be handled during outbreaks and how incidents should be documented by staff.

Local authorities will publish their annual reports on single outcome agreements (SOAs) in the autumn of each year, with reports relating to 2008-09 SOAs to be published in autumn 2009. A supplementary interim progress report will be produced for 2008-09 SOAs only, at the end of the current financial year. We shall ensure that these reports are made available for scrutiny by the Parliament.