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It is right and proper that ministers should have the power to give direction to Creative Scotland over its general functions, as with all public bodies. However, we will enshrine in legislation the arms length principle which is rightly valued by the arts community because it guarantees autonomy in respect of Creative Scotland''s artistic and cultural judgement.

Scottish Opera has received a 2% cash increase in its budget from the Scottish Government for each of the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 and also in the planned budget for 2010-11. This equates to a real terms decrease of 1.21% in 2008-09, and real terms increases of 2.50% and 3.28% in 2009-10 and 2010-11 against the 2007-08 baseline.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21914 on 25 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21914 on 25 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

The budget for Scottish Opera in 2008-09 and 2009-10 is £8.459 million and £8.628 million respectively and the planned budget for 2010-11 is £8.801 million.

This is an operational matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The board have confirmed that the extension to the Southern General will be completed late 2009 and that patients should begin to transfer in early 2010.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that the new children''s hospital should be completed in late 2013 with patients being treated early in 2014 after a period of commissioning.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that neonates are transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children from Maternity Units across the West of Scotland. The only additional transport requirements will be for the neonates who previously would have delivered at the Queen Mothers Hospital. The board have stated that the Neonatal Transport Team is well placed to accommodate these additional limited numbers of neonates.

This is an operational matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, however, the Board have confirmed that all Glasgow Maternity Units provide neonatal services. The Princess Royal Maternity Hospital (PRM) and Southern General provides the full range of care from intensive care high dependency and special care; the Queen Mother''s Hospital (QMH) provides special care services only and Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) provides intensive care services in a combined medical and surgical intensive care unit. When the QMH closes their special care neonatal services will transfer to the Southern General Hospital (SGH) and PRM. The combined medical and surgical intensive care service will remain at the RHSC, Yorkhill until the new children''s hospital opens at the SGH. There will be a period of four years between the QMH closure and the new children''s hospital opening. Clinical staff fully support this service model for the gap period.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that neonates are transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children from Maternity Units across the West of Scotland. The only additional transport requirements will be for the neonates who previously would have delivered at the Queen Mothers Hospital. The board have stated that the Neonatal Transport Team is well placed to accommodate these additional limited numbers of neonates.