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The ministerial statement on neuromuscular disease published in March, makes it clear that we would discuss with those responsible for planning services in NHSScotland how the proposed MSA posts could be funded on a sustainable basis.

It is ultimately for NHS boards to plan and fund services to need the healthcare needs of their local populations and NHS Scotland’s Regional Planning Groups (RPGs) wish to be very clear on the role of the muscle specialist groups (MSA), their appropriate grading and whether the posts require to be full time.

We are keen to progress the work around whether three full time MSA posts are required in an informed and constructive way, which will ultimately see an improved service for people living with neuromuscular disease.

South East and Tayside (SEAT) and North of Scotland (NoS) regional planning groups (RPGs) are therefore carrying out scoping exercises that will clarify the MSA role and help inform discussions on the way forward. We expect these RPGs to complete their scoping exercises early in the New Year.

SEAT has said that if appropriate, it will develop a job description in collaboration with the SMN for the MSA role, which takes account of regional requirements and which has an appropriate job evaluation.

Following this, the Scottish Government is willing to provide funding to the RPGs to pilot and evaluate the muscle specialist advisor role to ensure that they can deliver the desired outcomes for people living with neuromuscular disease.

Should the pilot prove successful the Scottish Government will work with the RPGs to secure MSA funding in the longer term.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03940 on 22 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 will shortly bring forward regulations on the increased inspection frequency for certain older people’s services which will come into force by the beginning of February. This will be the minimum inspection frequency and the Care Inspectorate will continue to inspect more frequently on the basis of the intelligence it receives through complaints, notifications from providers, local authorities and police and other risk assessment information. These arrangements will ensure that the Care Inspectorate will check whether performance can be sustained or, where required, improved in between inspections irrespective of previous grades.

All parents should have the choice of a range of high quality and affordable childcare and we are working with all sectors and partners to increase the capacity, range and flexibility of childcare services.

The majority of out of school care places are provided by the private and third sector. The Scottish Government has set up a £6.8 million Early Years Early Action fund to support front line delivery of effective early interventions by national third sector bodies. £2.8 million of this went to organisations delivering play or play related services this year. We have also recently announced the first allocation from our £50 million contribution to the Early Years Change Fund to provide £1.5 million per annum over the next three years to create a new Communities and Families Fund. This will support local communities to have a direct route into deciding what services are available locally, including parent and community-led childcare.

All of them are directly involved in a range of inspection activities relating to services in both adult and children’s sectors. This includes registration visits, investigating complaints, enforcement action and inspection visits.

A total cost of £2.7 million has been spent by the Care Inspectorate and its predecessor organisations on Voluntary Early Retirement and Voluntary Early Severance schemes since April 2010.

On 4 October 2011, the Care Inspectorate provided the Health and Sport Committee with an estimate for the costs of the additional staff it would require as a result of the new inspection frequency. The estimated increase is expected to be approximately £400,000.

As I have recently announced, I am taking a number of steps to strengthen the inspection and regulatory regime. However, it is also right that as part of the reorganisation of the inspection regime and the establishment of the Care Inspectorate that we sought to achieve efficiencies and deliver savings.

All of the Care Inspectorates Inspectors are multi-disciplinary and therefore work across the spectre of all care services. All Care Inspectorate Inspectors have completed the Regulation of Care Award or are currently undertaking it.

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.