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The UK Government, through the Department for Work and Pensions, is responsible for social security benefits and campaigns to maximise uptake of benefits. Under our Carers Strategy, the Scottish Executive is committed to improving the information available to carers both at national and local level. Later this month we will be launching publicity material to raise carer awareness and to ensure carers can access sources of information and support, including information on financial assistance. At local level, council social work departments and the NHS will be involved in implementing Carer Information Strategies. These strategies will be introduced over the coming months under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 and will seek to ensure that carers are made aware of the wide range of support available to them.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34221 on 5 March 2003. 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/webapp/search_wa

The resources allocated by the Executive to local authorities to support carers will have risen from £5 million in 1999-2000 to £21 million in 2003-04. This level of investment will be sustained over the next three years and increased in line with pay and inflation. In addition to this, local government finance settlements for the next three years include substantial extra sums for social care. We are working closely with local authorities, the NHS and carer representatives to develop policy guidance for health and social care practitioners around the new rights for carers contained in the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, as well as comprehensive new best practice guidance in supporting carers. Both sets of guidance will address the importance of delivering effective outcomes for carers through assessment.

Since the introduction of our Carers Strategy we have worked closely with carers' organisations at a national level to ensure that carers of all ages have access to appropriate information on their rights and about support, including financial support. From April 2000, the NHS Helpline has contained such information and this is now being made available through NHS 24. We have worked with carers' organisations on national publicity campaigns to help raise carer awareness and to alert carers to sources of support and advice. Carers' organisations have also been involved in helping us to make young carer information packs available in schools throughout Scotland. Provision of appropriate information and services at a local level is the responsibility of local authorities and NHS trusts. The Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 sets out requirements on local authorities and the NHS in relation to information strategies and informing carers of their rights. We will be working with the statutory sector and carers' organisations in developing these strategies.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34224 today. 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/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34224 today. 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/webapp/search_wa.

Carers have access to preventative screening services on the same basis as other users of NHS services.

In line with its Diversity Strategy, the Scottish Executive has a range of policies to allow its staff to meet their caring responsibilities and to achieve a satisfactory work life balance. These include career breaks, alternative working patterns, work place nurseries, subsidised holiday play schemes and special leave. The Executive also has in place staff networks for those with caring responsibilities or who work an alternative pattern. Work life balance policy is reserved to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Scottish Executive is working with the DTI to promote family-friendly policies in Scotland.

Service planners and providers are required under section 5A of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to consult effectively with service users and carers on the provision of local community care services, including respite care, to ensure that services are appropriate and accessible to carers. Our Carers Strategy specifically requires local authorities to consult carers on the use of resources allocated to them to provide services to support carers, including the provision of respite. Local authorities and NHS bodies are also encouraged to involve users and carers directly in implementing the Joint Future agenda to help deliver more integrated support services across health and social care.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34219 today. 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/webapp/search_wa.