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The resources allocated by the Executive to local authorities to support carers, including resources to develop respite services, will have risen from £5 million in 1999-2000 to £21 million in the period 2003-04. The local government allocations for the next three years maintain these resources at the 2003-04 levels, augmented by the general uplift for pay and inflation. We have made it clear to authorities that we expect these resources to be used to benefit carers. We are currently working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, NHS representatives and carers' organisations to develop outcome measures that will monitor the benefits to carers from these resources, our Carers Strategy in general and our recent introduction of new legislation to support carers. We are also monitoring through local agreements the outcomes achieved by individual councils for the significant resources we are providing specifically to develop additional respite services.

Our Delayed Discharge Action Plan committed us to developing a model national framework for joint hospital discharge policies and protocols. Consultation has taken place on a draft and guidance will be issued. We intend to publish Local Authority and NHS Board Partnerships' Protocols on our Delayed Discharge Website and audit these annually. Good practice in relation to the needs of carers will be incorporated in the framework protocol.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34226 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-34221 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.

We are phasing in regulation by the Care Commission of the wide range of services defined in the act. The implementation of the new registration and inspection framework set in place by the act, including application of the national care standards, is an operational matter for the Care Commission. Implementation of the Scottish Social Services Council's requirements under the act will also be phased. They have already published codes of practice and conduct and phased registration of the workforce will begin in April 2003. Ministers and their officials meet regularly with the commission and the council to discuss their progress with the performance targets set out in their respective corporate plans.

The generic clinical standards of NHS Quality Improvement (previously the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland) require all NHS services to identify the needs of carers in line with the National Strategy for Carers. All NHS services should meet clinical standards, and the report of the board's second review of the implementation of these standards will be published in May.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34221 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.

We are issuing comprehensive guidance to local authorities and the NHS on the new duties introduced by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 to inform carers of their right to an assessment. We have consulted widely with local authorities, the NHS and carers about this guidance. In addition, we are working closely with local authorities, the NHS and carers' representatives to develop more effective ways of monitoring the effective implementation of our policies to support carers.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34221 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.

Scotland's Transport: Delivering Improvements: Transport Indicators for Scotland stated the Executive's commitment to delivering an efficient, safe transport system which meets the needs of all and is accessible to all.Guidance issued by the Scottish Executive in 2000 underlined the importance of ensuring accessible travel in Local Transport Strategies (LTS). The guidance emphasised that everyone should have the opportunity for independent mobility. The LTS guidance is about to be reviewed and updated by the Executive and the consultation process will include all local authorities and the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS). MACS was established in May 2002 to allow disabled people to give their views on transport issues and suggest early practical improvements to transport for disabled people to the Executive.