Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3856. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa

Improved information onrespite is an issue which both local authorities and the Executive are seekingto address. A sub-group of the Social Work Services Statistical Liaison Grouphas been set up to recommend an agreed terminology that embraces respite, andother services to support carers, and to look at standardised ways ofcollecting information on service provision in these areas for use by theExecutive, local authorities and the voluntary sector. The group, involvingrepresentatives from the Executive, local authorities and carers’organisations, has met twice and we expect it to make recommendations earlynext year.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3856. All answers to written parlimentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa

Following the report of theRoyal Commission on Long Term Care, extra resources were provided to localauthorities, which rose to £48 million in 2003-04. £11 million of this is toincrease the provision of short break respite care across the range ofCommunity Care services. Local authorities have prepared draft Local OutcomeAgreements on the use of the extra resources. The Executive is currentlyworking with authorities on their draft agreements and hope to conclude theseby the end of this year. From the draft agreements received it is clear thatmany authorities are significantly increasing respite provision. Both thevolume and range of respite services are expanding. The arrangements are intendedto apply to the full range of needs for respite care. It will be for localauthorities to determine their priorities for a respite service, in the sameway as for social care services generally.

This information is not collected centrally and could only be obtained from individual court records. The Executive is soon to conduct a general review of civil judicial statistics, part of which will be to consider the detailed arrangements for collecting, collating and publishing the statistical information in a new format.

Part 1 of the 2002 actprovides for a national statutory debt arrangement scheme. A secondaryconsultation on the draft regulations in implementation of the scheme wascompleted on 2 October 2003 and the Communities Committee took evidence frominterested bodies at that time. The committee were broadly supportive of thedraft regulations and consultation responses are being analysed.

Before the scheme can bebrought into force, the necessary infrastructure must be in place. Thisincludes IT systems and supporting arrangements to make sure that necessarymoney advice is available. Work on this is going ahead with all speed, but itis not possible at this stage to be precise about a commencement date. Myexpectation is that the debt arrangement scheme will be in force by autumn2004.

MSPs’ staff cannotparticipate in the occupational pension schemes open to SPCB staff and MSPs.The SPCB has no plans to consider this matter. Payment towards pension provision for MSPs’ staff is, however, made underthe members allowance scheme.

The operation of Dungavel HouseImmigration Removal Centre is a matter for the Home Office. The Home Office,through its contractor, engages with South Lanarkshire Council. The Executivealso regularly meets with the Home Office and discusses a range of issues atthese times.

The information requested isnot readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The information on a projectby project basis is not held centrally, but details of the Scottish Executive’s capital expenditure for 2003-06 are given in Table 0.05 of the2004-05 Draft Budget. The website of the Executive’s Financial PartnershipsUnit www.scotland.gov.uk/pfi/list.aspprovides information about public private partnership projects in Scotland. Inaddition, specific information about capital expenditure in the health servicecan be found at:www.show.scot.nhs.uk/pfcu/.