Seòmar agus comataidhean

The investigation of specific incidents or allegations relating to any particular cremation or crematorium remains the responsibility of the relevant cremation authority or, if applicable, the police or Procurator Fiscal service.

The Commission has now issued a public call for written submissions from any interested parties. The Commission understands that individuals responding to this call for submissions may wish to set out their own personal experiences in order to provide context to their comments.

The Commission has been asked to report to Scottish Government by the end of 2013. Responsibility for implementing its recommendations will depend on the detail of each recommendation.

Recommendations around professional guidance or practice may be for Scottish Government, Cremation Authorities or for professional bodies.

Recommendations about legislation, however, will be for the Scottish Government to take forward in the first instance.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

30 May 2013

Index Heading: Health and Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what the projected cost is of the commission to examine the policies and practices in place for handling ashes and cremated remains.

(S4W-14859)

Michael Matheson: As the main costs will relate to the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by Commission members, it is not possible to provide a more definite projected cost at this time.

Our expectation is that the costs incurred will not exceed £100k. These costs will be met by Scottish Government.

Meetings with officials

All groups include housing association representatives, and all discuss health and social care integration in relation to their interests.

Older People’s Housing Strategy Monitoring and Advisory Group (former Wider Planning for an Ageing Population Working Group)

15 June 2012

29 November 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH

Housing Support Forum

25 January 2012

24 May 2012

27 November 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/housingsupport/Page4

Adaptations Working Group (work now concluded)

30 January 2012

16 March 2012

23 April 2012

12 June 2012

12 September 2012

29 October 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH/ADWG

Preventative Support Working Group (work now concluded)

8 February 2012

18 April 2012

26 June 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH/PSWG

Housing Association representatives attended consultation events during summer 2012

28 May

4 July

5 July

19 July

Officials provided input for a housing seminar

6 June 2012

Ministerial Meetings

The Deputy First Minister met with the Chief Executives of Bield, Hanover (Scotland) and Trust Housing Associations on 28 March 2012.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet with Chief Executives from Bield, Hanover and Trust Housing Associations on 12 September 2013 to discuss housing’s vital role in supporting the integration of adult health and social care.

At the January 2013 Delayed Discharge census the number of adults aged 18-65 recorded as delayed discharges was 110, comprising of 58 standard and 52 code nine delays.

Code 9 delays are patients who are delayed due to circumstances out with the control of either the Health Board or local authority, for example Adults with Incapacity who require a Guardian to be appointed. These delays are recorded separately within the census.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have not received any criminal reports regarding the inappropriate disposal of baby ashes in any crematoria.

The Scottish Government is launching the “Transforming Care after Treatment Programme” soon. The overall aim is to ensure that people diagnosed with cancer are prepared for and supported to live with the consequences of the diagnosis and its treatment.

Centrally National Services Division (NSD), a Division of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), manages the funding of cross border specialist healthcare services on behalf of NHS Scotland.

The number of cancer referrals going elsewhere in the UK to access treatment is small and mainly relate to those patients with eye tumours accessing low intensity proton beam radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Trust.

There is also a shared cross-border process in place for all other cancer referrals to access other specialist cancer treatment elsewhere in the UK.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on patients who relocate to England to seek alternative cancer treatment without referral.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

28 May 2013

Index Heading: Governance and Communities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14486 by Margaret Burgess on 8 May 2013, on how many other occasions the minister has (a) met and (b) written to a UK minister regarding welfare reform and when.

(S4W-14851)

The following corrected answer was issued on 31 May 2013

Margaret Burgess: Scottish Ministers meet with and write to UK Ministers on a regular basis.

The Minister for Housing and Welfare has met with UK Ministers on three occasions to discuss welfare reform. These meetings took place on 19 September 2012,
17 December 2012 and 6 March 2013.

The Minister has also written to UK Ministers on: 13 December 2012; 20 December 2012; 9 January 2013; 10 February 2013; 15 February 2013; 27 February 2013;
26 March 2013; 28 March 2013; 15 April 2013; and 23 May 2013 in relation to welfare reform matters.

As explained in the answer to question S4W-14488 on 8 May 2013, total costs involved in rehousing homeless households are variable and depending on a range of individual and local circumstances. It is not possible for the Scottish Government to produce meaningful estimates of national figures on such costs.