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Data from Information Services Division Scotland confirms that in 2009, 40,392 people in Scotland were diagnosed with cancer. Of this population group, 8,371 (20.7%) received radiotherapy as a primary (first) treatment.

This data relates only to primary therapy which is started for newly diagnosed patients before their cancer registration record is completed. It does not include radiotherapy given after their cancer registration record is completed, for example, palliative radiotherapy for later recurrence or patients who receive radiotherapy as a secondary treatment following surgery or chemotherapy.

It is not possible to estimate the number of one-bedroom properties required as a result of the proposed changes to housing benefit in the UK Government’s Welfare Reform Bill.

We estimate that of around 111,000 single person households of working age in the social rented sector in Scotland receiving housing benefit around 52,000 are currently occupying one bedroom properties. A further 59,000 are in two or more bedroom properties and will therefore be subject to under occupation penalties as proposed in the Welfare Reform Bill.

As a result of the changes, some of these households may decide to remain in their existing property and absorb the penalty. Others may decide to move into smaller or shared property in the private rented sector. Some may try to transfer to a smaller property in the social rented sector. However, there is very little scope for under occupying households to transfer to smaller properties as only around 3,000 households in one bedroom properties require larger accommodation.

Further analysis is available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/supply-demand/chma/Benefitchanges

As of 31 December 2010 there were 920 care homes for older people, of which 889 care homes had completed Annual Returns. Of these:

514 (58%) provide nursing care internally

257 (29%) use external nurses to provide nursing care (and have no internal provision)

118 (13%) do not provide nursing care.

Not all care homes for older people completed annual returns. Homes that did not complete an annual return are mainly services that are newly registered in the three months preceding the annual return date as they are not obliged to do so.

The police investigation is still ongoing and it is expected to continue into next year due to the wide ranging lines of enquiry.

The Care Inspectorate does consider staffing levels at the point of registration and post registration regulation, including at inspections. The Care Inspectorate’s findings are published on their website: www.careinspectorate.com. In addition, each care home should display a staffing schedule alongside the certificate of registration.

From 1 April 2011 all care homes must keep a record of dependency levels of service users and these should be updated at a minimum of every four weeks. These dependency assessments should inform the numbers, skill mix and deployment of staffing in a service.

There is a statutory requirement on care service providers to ensure that at all times suitably qualified and competent persons are working in the care service, as are appropriate for the health and welfare of service users. The National Care Standards also require care home staff to have professional training and expertise which allows them to meet the needs of residents. Compliance with these requirements is part of the Care Inspectorate’s inspection process. The Care Inspectorate has a range of measures it can take to ensure that providers comply with requirements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03684 on 14 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 skills mix of staffing for individual care homes is dependent on the assessed needs of its residents. There are therefore no plans to issue guidance setting out the percentage of care homes requiring the services of a registered nurse.

In addition, the Care Inspectorate has responsibilities in relation to staffing, and these are set out clearly in the answer to question S4W-03684 on 14 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 Care Inspectorate has a responsibility to scrutinise local authorities to provide an objective, evidence-based assessment of how well people are being served by their social work services; make a constructive contribution towards the further improvement of these services; help safeguard the interests of people who use services and carers, and help local authorities to develop their own approach to improving services. The Care Inspectorate will publish the findings and recommendations for each local authority, and through the Public Services Reform (Act) 2010, local authorities are required to take account of inspection reports and recommendations.

Local authorities are also under a duty to demonstrate best value which requires them to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in performance and in doing so to have regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equal opportunities requirements and to the achievement of sustainable development.

We believe this current balance of duties and responsibilities adequately covers the current landscape for delivery of social care services to older people. As we move towards greater integration of health and social care this balance may need to be revisited.

The UK response to the European Council’s Recommendation on the development of a national plan for rare diseases is due by the end of 2013. Led by the Department of Health, all four administrations are developing a draft UK plan. A public consultation on the draft plan is expected to be launched before the end of this year.

The Scottish Government has set out its position on the impact on devolved services of the UK Government’s Welfare Reform Bill in the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum lodged on 1 November 2011.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/25202.aspx.