Seòmar agus comataidhean

The publication of the Draft Budget 2012-13 marked the start of the public consultation on the Scottish Government’s budget plans and comments are welcomed by 21 December 2011.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03604 on 8 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03476 on 27 October 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03568 on 8 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The establishment of the Change Funds is a starting point in the wider alignment of public service budgets on a preventative spend basis. Decision making about the change funds will be taken locally in line with the guidance that will be developed by the relevant joint Groups. Local government is fully committed to the preventative approach and to making an appropriate financial contribution to the change funds. The expenditure in total across the Spending Review period is broken down as £310 million for the Change Fund for older people’s services; £272 million for the Early Years and Early Intervention Fund and £7.5 million for the Reducing Reoffending Change Fund.

The figures published in the Draft Budget on 21 September 2011 for the local government finance settlement include the income from the public health supplement, which will be used to support preventative spend.

It is estimated that the public health supplement will raise £30 million in 2012-13 and £40 million in each of 2013-14 and 2014-15.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03473 on 27 October 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03598 on 8 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The additional income raised from the public health supplement will be distributed to local authorities through the local government finance settlement.

The income will be used as a contribution towards the preventative spend measures that will be taken forward jointly by the Scottish Government, local authorities, the NHS and the third sector.